OFFICIAL  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 
NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION 


Ml* 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNi> 
DAVIS 


OFFICIAL  PROCEEDINGS 


• 

OF   THE 


NATIONAL 


HELD   IN 


CINCINNATI. 


JUNE  2-6,  1856. 

to 


PUBLISHED   BY   ORDER  OF  THE   CONVENTION. 


CINCINNATI: 

BNQUIRER  COMPANY  STEAM  PRINTING  ESTABLISHMENT, 
T.  WRIGHTSON,  Superintendent. 

1856. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIPORNtt 
DAVIS 


* 


GIFT 


IU 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF  THE 


DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


MONDAY,  June  2,  1856. 

Pursuant  to  the  call  of  the  Democratic  National  Committee,  the 
Delegates  to  the  National  Convention  assembled  in  Smith  &  Nixon's 
Hall  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  at  12  o'clock,  noon,  on  the  second  day  of 
June,  1856. 

Robert  McLane,  of  Maryland,  as  Chairman  of  the  National  Demo 
cratic  Committee,  called  the  Convention  to  order. 

W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Illinois,  arose  and  proposed  that  the  Conven 
tion,  for  temporary  organization,  should  elect  Samuel  Medary,  of  Ohio, 
President  pro  tern.,  (Loud  applause),  which  was  unanimously  adopted. 

On  motion,  A.  B.  Clitherall,  of  Alabama,  and  W.  P.  Ritchie,  of 
Virginia;  were  appointed  Secretaries  pro  tern. 

Mr.  B.  F.  Hallett,  of  Massachusetts,  asked  that  before  further  pro 
ceedings,  the  call  of  the  Convention  should  be  read,  which  was  done  by 
the  Secretary.  It  is  as  follows  : 

Voted,  That  the  next  Democratic  National  Convention  be  held  at  Cincinnati,  in  the  State  of 
Ohio. 

Voted,  That  in  constituting  the  future  National  Convention,  the  Democratic  Committee,  in  order 
to  secure  the  respective  rights  of  the  States,  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  twice  the  number  of  dele 
gates  it  has  in  the  Electoral  College,  and  no  more  ;  and  the  Democratic  Committee,  in  making 
arrangements  for  the  next  Democratic  Convention,  provide  such  number  of  seats,  and  secure  the 
same  to  the  delegates  elect. 

Hon.  A.  P.  Edgerton,  of  Ohio,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements,  handed  to  the  President  a  list  of  the  Delegates  elected 
where  seats  were  not  contested,  which  was  as  follows : 

LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORJEQi 
PAVIS 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


LIST  OF  DELEGATES  TO  THE  DEMOCRATIC  NATIONAL  CONVENTION, 

Held  at  Cincinnati,  June  2d,  1856. 
MAINE. 


Wyman  B.  S.  Moor, 

Waterville, 

A.  B.  Chase, 

Dover, 

William  K.  Kimball, 

Paris, 

Isaac  Tyler, 

Farmington, 

John  C.  Talbot,  jr., 

Lubec, 

Israel  R.  Bray, 

Kingfield, 

Samuel  Watts, 

Thomaston, 

F.  T.  Lally, 

Gardiner, 

Dudley  F.  Leavitt, 

Bangor, 

Andrew  Masters, 

Hallowell, 

Benjamin  Wiggin, 

Bangor, 

A.  G.  Chandler, 

Calais, 

Jonathan  Smith, 

Portland, 

Israel  Chadbourne, 

York, 

John  Babson, 

Wiscasset.           George  Parcher, 

Ellsworth. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Harry  Hibbard, 

Bath,                     Henry  B.  Rust, 

Wolfeboro', 

Joseph  H.  Smith, 

Dover, 

George  Bowers, 

Nashua, 

John  H.  George, 

Concord, 

Horatio  Kimball, 

Keene, 

B.  F.  Ayer, 

Manchester, 

Jonas  Livingston, 

Claremont, 

Chas.  Levi  Woodbury, 

Portsmouth.         Robert  Ingalls, 

VERMONT. 

D.  A.  Sm  alley, 

Burlington,          Tappan  Stevens. 

Newbury, 

J.  P.  Kidder, 

West  Randolph, 

John  Cain, 

Rutland, 

C.  G.  Eastman, 

Montpelier, 

Lyman  P.  White, 

Whiting, 

Bradley  Barlow, 

Fairfield, 

Isaac  B.  Bowdish, 

Swanton, 

Robert  Harvey, 

Barnet. 

P.  S.  Benjamin, 

Wolcott. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Benjamin  F.  Butler, 

Lowell, 

James  Cheever, 

Boston, 

Charles  G.  Greene, 

Boston, 

George  B.  Loring, 

Salem, 

N.  J.  Lord, 

Salem,                   Albert  J.  Currier, 

Newburyport, 

Whiting  Griswold, 

Greenfield,          IChas.  H.  Peaslee, 

Boston, 

S.  B.  Phinney, 

Barnstable, 

W.  W.  Pierce, 

Charlestown, 

James  D.  Thompson, 

New  Bedford, 

Fisher  A.  Hildreth, 

Lowell, 

Alden  S.  Loud, 

W.  Fessenden, 

Townsend, 

E.  P.  Hathway, 

Abington, 

Isaac  Davis, 

Worcester, 

Ezra  S.  Conant, 

Randolph, 

George  W.  Gill, 

Worcester, 

Henry  P.  Henshaw, 

Newton, 

Stephen  C.  Bemis, 

Springfield, 

Patrick  Riley, 

Boston, 

Calvin  Tincey, 

Palmer, 

Isaac  Adams, 

Boston, 

James  S.  Whitney, 

Springfield, 

Benjamin  F.  Hallett, 

Boston. 

Henry  H.  Childs, 

Pittsfield, 

RHODE    ISLAND. 

Wm.  B.  Lawrence, 

Newport. 

H.  J.  Burroughs, 

Providence, 

Ariel  Ballon, 

Woonsocket, 

Wm.  J.  Miller, 

Bristol, 

Peleg  W.  Gardiner, 

Providence, 

Elisha  R.  Potter, 

Kingston, 

Alfred  Anthony, 

Do. 

Albert  S.  Gallup, 

Providence. 

CONNECTICUT. 

James  T.  Pratt, 

Rock  Hill,           James  Gallagher, 

New  Haven, 

Colin  M.  Ingersoll, 

New  Haven, 

Sam'l.  Ingham, 

Essex, 

Joel  W.  White, 

Norwich, 

John  P.  C.  Mather, 

New  London, 

E.  A.  Phelps, 

Nh.  Colebrook, 

Peleg  C.  Child, 

Nh.  Woodstock, 

Eeman  H.  Barbour, 

Hartford, 

John  C.  Smith, 

Sharon, 

Alvan  P.  Hyde, 

Tolland. 

Wm.  D.  Bishop, 

Bridgeport. 

NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


NEW  JERSEY. 

Wm.  Cook, 

Bordentown, 

Wm.  D.  Davis, 

Freehold, 

Alfred  Hugg, 

Camden, 

Arch.  Osburn, 

Asbury, 

J.  S.  Darsey, 

Newark, 

Ingham  Coryell, 

Lambertsville, 

E.  R.  V.  Wright, 

Hudson  City, 

Jacob  Vanatta, 

Morristown, 

Wm.  Hanna, 

Camden, 

John  Hooper, 

Paterson, 

Ephraim  E.  Sheppard 

,Bridgeton, 

Simeon  Harrison, 

Orange, 

Garrett  S.  Cannon, 

Bordentown. 

Charles  Fink, 

Jersey  City. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

-^ 

Arnold  Plnmmer, 

Franklin,             John  G.  Brenner, 

Philadelphia, 

Henry  D.  Foster, 

Greensburg, 

Orrin  Jones, 

D.  R.  Porter, 

Harrisburg, 

Thomas  J.  Roberts, 

Philadelphia. 

James  L.  Reynolds, 

Lancaster, 

John  Rutter, 

West  Chester, 

Edward  G.  Webb, 

Philadelphia. 

Charles  D.  Manley, 

Media,  Del.  Co. 

John  McCarthy, 

Do. 

John  D.  Stiles, 

Allen  town, 

Jas.  C.  Vandyke, 

Do. 

Ed.  Nicholson, 

Bucks  County, 

C.  McKibben,. 

Do. 

J.  Glancy  Jones, 

Reading, 

John  Robbins,  jr., 

Kensington, 

P.  K.  Miller, 

Do. 

Chas.  W.  Carrigan, 

Philadelphia, 

Jacob  Forney, 

Kittanning, 

Joseph  Lippincott, 

Do. 

John  L.  Dawson, 

Brownsville, 

Andrew  Burke, 

Pittsburg, 

C.  L.  Ward, 

Towanda, 

Samuel  W.  Black, 

Pittsburg, 

W.  F.  Packer, 

Williamsport, 

M.  C.  Trout, 

Sharon, 

John  H.  Morrison, 

J.  L.  Gillis, 

Ridgway, 

Henry  Welsh, 

York, 

J.  Porter  Branley, 

Meadville, 

John  Stuart, 

Carlisle, 

A.  S.  Wilson, 

Lewistown, 

A.  P.  Lusk, 

H.  B.  Swan, 

Lancaster, 

John  Cessna, 

Bedford, 

Joseph  B.  Baker, 

Gap, 

John  C.  Everhart, 

Marti  nsburg, 

John  Weidman, 

Lebanon, 

Richard  White, 

Hemlock, 

J.  M.  Kreister, 

Harrisburg, 

Alex.  McKinney, 

Greensburg, 

Wm.  L.  Dewar, 

Sunbury, 

William  Hopkins, 

Washington, 

C.  M.  St.raub, 

Pottsville, 

Charles  Barnett, 

Pittsburg, 

H.  B.  Wright, 

Wilkesbarre, 

James  A.  Gibson, 

Allegheny  Co. 

J.  G.  Montgomery, 

Danville, 

John  N.  McGuffin, 

New  Castle, 

John  N.  Hutchison, 

Easton, 

J.  Y.  James, 

Warren, 

H.  B.  Beardsly, 

Honesdale, 

Wilson  Laird, 

Erie. 

W.  E.  Piolett, 

Wyson. 

DELAWARE. 

George  Riddle, 

Wilmington. 

Wm.  H.  Ross, 

Seaford. 

Gove  Salisbury, 

Dover. 

James  A.  Bayard, 

Wilmington, 

Willard  Salisbury, 

Georgetown. 

H.  Ridgley, 

Dover. 

MARYLAND. 

R.  B.  Carmichael, 

James  M.  Buchanan, 

Baltimore. 

Walter  P.  Snow, 

Snow  Hill. 

William  Byrne, 

Baltimore. 

William  D.  Merrick, 

Allen's  Fresh, 

Rob't  M.  McLane, 

Baltimore. 

Nathaniel  Cox, 

Baltimore. 

C.  J.  M.  Gwinn, 

Baltimore. 

Cathill  Humphreys, 

Salisbury. 

J.  Thompson  Mason, 

Annapolis. 

James  A.  Stewart, 

Cambridge. 

S.  Lewis  Lowe, 

Frederick  City, 

John  A.  J.  Creawell, 

Elkton,CecilCo. 

Edward  Hammond, 

Ellicott's  Mills. 

Otho  Scott, 

Belle  Air.            John  A.  B.  Leonard. 

Poolesville, 

PROCEEDINGS  OP  THE 


VIRGINIA. 

T.  S.  Bocock, 

Appomatton  c.h. 

Eppa  Hunton, 

Brentsville, 

E.  W.  Hubbard, 

Curdsville, 

Thomas  M.  Isbell, 

Rippon,  Jeff.  co. 

W.  H.  Clark, 

Scottsburgh, 

J.  Randolph  Tucker, 

Winchester, 

W.  P.  Thompson, 

Retreat, 

Chas.  W.  Russell, 

Wheeling. 

John  P.  Barbour,  Jr., 

Alexandria. 

James  Nelson, 

Fairmount. 

B.  W.  Jackson, 

Parkersburg. 

J.  L.  Carr, 

Kanawha  c.h. 

J.  G.Jenkins, 

Green  Bottom. 

Eustace  Conway, 

Fredericksburg 

M.  R.  H.  Garnett, 

Loyds,  Essex  Co. 

James  A.  Seddon, 

Goochland  Co. 

Paulus  Powell, 

Amherstc.  h. 

R.  A.  Banks, 

Madison  c.  h. 

K.  K.  v  eade, 

Petersburg. 

Lewis  E.  Harris, 

Mattoac  Depot. 

Wm.  B.  Shands, 

Southampton. 

W.  H.  Edwards, 

Baileysburg. 

H.  T.  Hopkins, 

Macon,Powhatn 

M.  W.  Fisher, 

Eastville. 

George  Booker, 

Hampton.  , 

Archibald  Graham, 

Lexington. 

Samuel  C.  Williams, 

Woodstock, 

A.  A.  Chapman, 

Fayette  McMullen, 

Rye,  Scott  Co. 

John  B.  Floyd, 

Abington. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Wm.  S.  Ashe, 

Wilmington. 

W.  W.     very, 

Morgantown. 

B.  R.  Heath, 

Edonton. 

Bedford  Brown, 

Locust  Hill. 

Wm.  Sloan, 

Dallas. 

H.  G.  Williams, 

Hubbardstown. 

J.  T.  Granberry, 

Woodville. 

F.  A.  Thornton, 

Macon  Depot. 

M.  Silby, 

Lake  Landing. 

John  Morrison. 

Carthage. 

Wm.  J.  Yates, 

Fayetteville. 

A.  J.  Stafford, 

Winston. 

T.  D.  McDowall, 

Elizabeth  town. 

J.  W.  Neal, 

Lawsonville. 

Burton  Craige, 

Salisbury. 

J.  B.  Gordon, 

Wilkesboro. 

Thos.  L.  Clingman, 

Asheville. 

J.  T.  Lewis, 

Faulkner. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

F.  W.  Pickins, 

Edgefield  c.  h. 

B.  H.  Brown, 

Barnwell. 

J.  Gadberry, 

Unionville. 

J.  L.  Manning, 

Fulton. 

B.  H.  Wilson, 

Georgetown. 

J.  D.  Allen, 

Barnwell. 

C.  W.  Dudley, 

Bennettsville 

James  Farrow, 

Spartanburg. 

W.  D.  Porter, 

F.  J.  Moses, 

Sumpterville. 

C.  McBeth, 

Charleston.         [E.  G.  Palmer, 

Winnsboro. 

GEORGIA. 

J.  W.  H.  Underwood, 

Rome.                   James  Gardner, 

Augusta. 

M.  J.  Wellborn, 

Columbus. 

L.  Stephens, 

Sparta. 

John  E.  Ward, 

Savannah. 

A.  H.  Colquitt, 

Newton. 

K.  F.  Lyon, 

Albany. 

Hugh  Buchanan, 

Newnan. 

W.  K.  DeGraffenried, 

Macon. 

J.  W.  Lewis, 

Cartersville. 

Charles  Murphy, 

Decatur. 

Wm.  H.  Hull, 

Athens. 

Aug.  R.  Wright, 

Rome. 

A.  E.  Cochran, 

Brunswick. 

H.  Strickland, 

Hightower. 

J.  T.  Irvin, 

Washington. 

A.  S.  Atkinson, 

Langsbury. 

R.  J.  Conout, 

Atlanta. 

John  J.  Gary, 

Macon. 

J.  L.  Rowland, 

Cartersville. 

ALABAMA. 

John  Forsyth, 

Mobile. 

James  R.  Powell, 

Montgomery. 

R.  Chapman. 

Huntsville. 

Jarnes  B.  Martin, 

Talladega. 

David  Hubbard, 

Kenlock. 

J.  W.  Portiss, 

Suggsviile, 

John  Cochran, 

Eufala. 

A.  L.  Milligan, 

Geneva, 

Julius  Hessee 

Mobile. 

J.  B.  Tale, 

Uchee, 

Boiling  Hall, 

Montgomery. 

H.  H.  Clements, 

Tuscaloosa, 

A.  B.  Clitherall, 

Garrullton. 

Thos.  H.  Hobbs, 

Athens, 

H.  D.  Smith, 

Florence. 

W.  Acklin, 

Huntsville. 

1  .  J.  Burnett, 

Greenville. 

H.  W.  Nelson, 

NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


E.  LaSere, 
P.  Soule, 
W.  W.  Pugh, 
Chas.  G.  McHatton, 
P.  A.  Moise, 
W.  S.  Parham, 

LOUIS 

New  Orleans. 
New  Orleans. 
Assumption. 
Baton  Rouge. 
Natchitoches. 
Richmond. 

MISS( 

IANA. 

A..  Derbis, 
Ihos  Cottman, 
F.  H.  Hatch, 
Alexander  Mouton, 
0.  D.  Block, 
John  L.  Lewis. 

DUEL 

New  Orleans. 
Donaldsonville. 
Darlington. 
Vermillionville. 

Minden. 

W.  A.  Harris, 

Bowling  Green. 

Thomas  B.  English, 

Jackson. 

E.  D.  Bevitt, 

St.  Charles. 

Joseph  Coffraan, 

St.  Genevieve. 

James  S.  Greene, 

Canton. 

Thomas  B.  Hudson, 

St.  Louis. 

A.  W.  Lamb, 

Hannibal. 

D.  D.  Berry, 

Springfield. 

P.  H.  McBride, 

Columbia. 

Ferdinand  Kennett, 

Old  Mines. 

William  Shields, 

Lexington. 

W.  Watson, 

Georgetown. 

R.  H.  Stevens, 

Bellemonte. 

James  Craig, 

St.  Joseph. 

S.  R.  Shrader, 

Liberty. 

John  S.  Phelps, 

Springfield. 

John  S.  McCracken, 

Jefferson  City. 

Stark  Manzey. 

Brownville, 

INDIANA. 

Wm.  Rockhill, 

Fort  Wayne.       James  Osborn, 

Fairfield. 

John  Pettit, 

Lafayette. 

Alex.  F.  Morrison, 

Indianapolis. 

Jos.  W.  Chapman, 

Madison. 

Franklin  Hardin, 

Glenns  Valley. 

John  L.  Robinson, 

Rushville. 

G.  T.  Cookerly, 

Terre  Haute. 

Turner  Nelson, 

Mt.  Vernon. 

Wm.  M.  Franklin, 

Spencer. 

John  C.  Hebertt, 

Vincennes. 

S.  W.  Telford, 

Lafayette, 

P.  M.  Kent, 

New  Albany. 

M.  D.  Manson, 

Crawfordsville. 

D.  S.  Huffstetter, 

Orleans. 

A.  A.  Whitlock, 

R.  W.  Aiken, 

Bloomington. 

N.  0.  Ross, 

Peru. 

S.  P.  Mooney, 

Brownstown. 

G.  W.  McConnell, 

Angola. 

C.  O'Brien, 

Lawrenceburg. 

J.  W.  Borden, 

Fort  Wayne. 

A.  Davidson. 

Greensburg. 

J.  R.  Slack, 

Huntington. 

James  Elder, 

Richmond. 

W.  Ryan, 

Anderson. 

OHIO. 

Samuel  Medary, 

Columbus. 

L.  W.  Safford, 

Chillicothe. 

Henry  B.  Paine, 

Cleveland. 

Wm.  Medill, 

Lancaster. 

James  B.  Stedman, 

Toledo. 

B.  P.  Hewitt, 

McArthur. 

C.  L.  Vallandigham, 

Dayton. 

Lewis  Evans, 

Newark. 

Washington  McLean, 

Cincinnati. 

W.  A.  Delap'aine, 

Circleville. 

J.  L.  Vattier, 

Cincinnati. 

H.  C.  Brumback, 

Mt.  Gilead. 

J.J.  Quinn, 

Cincinnati. 

John  Mack, 

Shelby. 

Joseph  Cooper, 

Glendale. 

D.  B.  Austin, 

M.  C.  Ryan, 

Hamilton. 

J.  A.  Marchand, 

Wooster. 

R.  S.  Cunningham, 

Eaton. 

M.  Hoagland, 

Millersburg. 

G.  V.  Dorsey, 

Piqua. 

Eli  Miller, 

Mt.  Vernon. 

J.  Counts, 

Sidney. 

H.J.  Jewel  t, 

Zanesville. 

J.  G.  Haley, 

Napoleon. 

Amos  Layman, 

Marietta. 

M.  C.  Whitley, 

Wm.  Lawrence, 

Washington. 

John  W.  Bell, 

Hillsboro. 

Jas.  R.  Morris, 

Woodsfield. 

George  W.  Hamer, 

Georgetown. 

Geo.  W.  Belden, 

Canton. 

J.  M.  Smith, 

London. 

R.  O.  Hammond, 

Akron. 

T.  L.  Carothers, 

Wilmington. 

Arthur  Hughes, 

Cleveland. 

8 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


John  A.  Corwin, 

Urbana. 

D.  R.  Paige, 

Madison. 

James  Wood, 

R.  P.  Ranny, 

Warren. 

M.  P.  Bean, 

Bucyrus. 

S.  W.  Gilson, 

Canfield. 

George  W.  Glick, 

Tremont. 

W.  H.  Gill, 

New  Lisbon. 

J.  W.  Davis, 

Portsmouth. 

Geo.  W.  McCook, 

Steubenville. 

MISSISSIPPI.  . 

Powhattan  Ellis, 

Natchez.              W.  W.  H.  Linn, 

Houston. 

E.  Barksdale, 

Jackson. 

W.  L.  Balfour, 

Vernon. 

0.  R.  Singleton, 

Canton. 

G.  A.  Sykes, 

Austin. 

James  Drane, 

Bankston. 

J.  A.  Orr, 

Houston, 

G.  F.  Neill, 

Carrollton. 

Wm.  A.  Stone, 

Monticello. 

Jacob  Thompson, 

Oxford. 

Sampson  Parks, 

A.  G.  Brown, 

Newtown, 

A.  M.  Clayton, 

Marshall  Co, 

TEXAS. 

R.  B.  Hubbard, 

Tyler. 

Wm.  S.  Oldham, 

Austin. 

Matt  Ward, 

Jefferson. 

H.  P.  Bee, 

Laredo. 

W.  C.  Pollock, 

Nacogdoches. 

Jacob  Wallder. 

San  Antonio. 

Wm.  Fields, 

Galveston.           Guy  M.  Bryan, 

Brazona. 

FLORIDA. 

C.  E.  Dyke, 

Tallahassee. 

John  H.  Parkhill, 

Tallahassee. 

J.  R.  Brooks, 

Pensacola. 

S.  St.  George  Rodgers,  Ocola. 

D.  L.  Yulee, 

Homasassa. 

J.  T.  Maybee, 

Tampa. 

TENNESSEE. 

Thomas  C.  Lyon, 

Knoxville. 

W.  B.  Bate, 

Gallatin. 

E.  L.  Gardenhire, 

Sparta. 

T.  W.  Newham, 

Winchester- 

W.  E.  Travis, 

Manleyville. 

J.  H.  Thomas, 

Columbia. 

W.  M.  Lowrey, 

Greeneville. 

Thomas  M.  Jones, 

Pulaski. 

J.  D.  Goodpasture, 

Livingston. 

S.  P.  Allison, 

Nashville, 

H.  M.  Colquitt, 

M.  A.  Quarles, 

Clarksville. 

Lewis  Shepherd, 

Chickamanga. 

T.  J.  Freeman, 

Trenton. 

Austin  Miller, 

Bolivar. 

B.  F.  Lamb, 

Paris. 

B.  M.  Moore, 

Lawrenceburg. 

J.  Knox  Walker, 

Memphis. 

E.  G.  Eastman, 

Nashville. 

L.  C.  Waggoner, 

Franklin. 

Jacob  Miller, 

Yellow  Stone. 

John  C.  Ramsey, 

Knoxville. 

W.  W.  Ferguson, 

Carthage. 

A.  J.  Vaughen, 

Madison  ville. 

KENTUCKY. 

J.  P.  Bates, 

Glasgow, 

B.  Spalding, 

Lebanon, 

Jas.  H.  Garrard, 

Danville, 

Luther  Branner, 

Boonville, 

C.  A.  Wickliffe, 

Bardstown, 

German  Baker, 

Shelbyville, 

J.  P.  Martin, 

Prestonsburg, 

L.  B.  Dickerson, 

Georgetown, 

Levy  Tyler, 

Louisville, 

E.  Whitaker, 

Maysville, 

B.  L.  Clarke, 

Franklin, 

J.  C.  Mason, 

Owingsville, 

J.  C.  Breckinridge, 

Lexington, 

J.  W.  Stevenson, 

Covington, 

Beriah  Magoffin, 

Harrodsburg, 

G.  B.  Cook, 

Princeton, 

Wm.  Preston, 

Louisville, 

John  Chapeze, 

Greenville, 

T.  C.  McCreery, 

Owensboro', 

R.  B.  J.  Twyman, 

Paducah, 

L.  Desha, 

S.  Garfield, 

Paris, 

Nath'l.  S.  Strange, 

Smith's  Grove. 

W.  E.  Frazer, 

Columbia. 

NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


9 


ILLINOIS. 

J.  A.  Mattison, 
Wm.  A.  Richardson, 
T.  L.  Harris, 
J.  W.  Singleton, 
H.  B.  L.  Steward, 
J.  C.  Walker, 
L.  F.  Ross, 
J.  L.  McCormier, 
R.  W.  English, 
S.  Y.  Baldwin, 
W.  Cockle, 
C.  T.  Gibbs, 

Springfield, 
Quincy, 
Pettesburg, 

Chicago, 
Bloomington, 
Lewiston, 
Jacksonville, 
Alton, 
Decatur, 
Peoria, 
Griggsville. 

John  S.  Hacker, 
T.  R.  Young, 
W.  B.  Ficklin, 
H.  W.  Dorsett, 
Wm.  R.  Morrison, 
J.  B.  Danforth,  jr., 
B.  F.  Fredley, 
J.  M.  Campbell, 
C.  H.  Lamphier, 
T.  S.  Hick, 
C.  J.  Houseman, 

Cairo, 
Marshall, 
Charleston, 
Waukegan, 
Waterloo, 
Rock  Island, 

Macomb, 
Springfield, 
New  Haven, 
Rockford. 

WISCONSIN. 

Nelson  Dewey, 
Paul  Juneau, 
James  B.  Cross, 
Satterlee    Clarke, 
H.  J.  Shultyes, 

Cassville, 
Juneau, 
Milwaukee, 
Green  Lake, 

Schlersingerville, 

Sam'l.  Crawford, 
Horace  T.  Saunders, 
M.  J.  Thomas, 
W.  J.  Gibson, 
Beriah  Brown, 

Mineral  Point, 
Racine, 
Fond  du  Lac, 
La  Crosse, 
Madison. 

IOWA. 

T.  S.  Wilson, 
W.  F.  Coolbaugh, 
C.  J.  McFarland, 
J.  C.  Ramsey, 

Dubuque, 
Burlington, 

Agency  City. 

D.  H.  Solomons, 
A.  T.  Walling, 
R.  M.  Evans, 
Bernhart  Henn, 

Glenwood. 
Keokuk, 
Iowa  City, 
Fairfield. 

MICHIGAN. 

W.  F.  Story, 
F.  C.  Whipple, 
John  P.  Cook,' 
A.  E..  Campbell, 
C.  C.  Chatfield, 
M.  E.  Crofoot, 

Detroit, 
Howell, 
Hillsdale, 
Battle, 
Eaton  Rapids, 
Pontiac. 

Wm.  Hale, 
J.  S.  Barry, 
J.  G.  Thurber, 
Jacob  Beeson, 
Geo.  W.  Peck, 
Ebenezer  Warren, 

Detroit. 
Constantine, 
Monroe, 
Niles, 
Lansing, 
Saut  St.  Marie. 

ARKANSAS. 

R.  M.  Gaines, 
J.  N.  Embree, 
C.  A.  Carroll, 
R.  E.  Jackson, 
J.  P.  Johnson, 

Gaines  Landing 
Pine  Bluff, 
Fort  Smith, 
Valley  Grove, 

John  Hutt, 
John  S.  Roame, 
T.  B.  Flournoy, 
C.  Caldwell, 

Little  Rock, 
Pine  Bluff, 
Laconice, 
Madison, 

CALIFORNIA. 

P.  C.  Rust, 
Sam'l.  H.  Dosh, 
D.  E.  Buel, 
J.  H.  Hill, 

Marysville, 
Shasta, 
Colema, 
Sonoma, 

P.  L.  Solomon, 
J.  Lancaster  Brent, 
J.  N.  Dawley, 
S.W.Inge, 

Sonora, 
Los  Angelos, 
Nevada, 
San  Francisco. 

PROCEEDINGS  OP  THE 


Mr.  McLane  said  :  "  I  have  been  requested  by  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements  to  place  in  the  hands  of  the  Temporary  Chairman  of 
this  Convention  a  list  of  the  delegates  elected.  I  have  also  been  re 
quested  to  state  that  two  papers  have  been  presented  to  that  Committee 
by  two  different  delegations  from  the  State  of  New  "York.  The  gentle 
men  composing  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  desire  to  communi 
cate  to  the  Convention  that  they  have  regarded  all  papers  which  on 
their  face  bear  prima  facie  evidence  of  the  regular  election  of  the  per 
son  presenting  them,  as  entitling  those  persons  to  seats  in  this  hall. 
They  considered  it  their  duty  to  issue  tickets  to  all  delegates  who  pre 
sented  themselves  with  such  prima  facie  evidence  of  election  by  the 
people.  By  this  rule,  when  the  iState  of  Missouri  presented  itself  the 
Committee  issued  tickets  to  those  who  presented  this  prima  fac>e  evi 
dence  that  they  were  delegates  elect.  Another  set,  also  claiming  seats, 
presented  themselves  from  the  State  of  Missouri  ;  but  as  in  the  opinion 
of  the  committee  they  did  not  present  the  necessary  prima  facie  evidence 
of  election,  tickets  were  refused  to  them.  The  same  go  veined  in  the 
case  of  New  York,  as  in  that  of  others  bearing  prima  facia  evidence  of 
election.  The  New  York  delegations  could  not  but  be  regarded  as  in 
the  same  position  as  the  delegations  from  other  States  which  presented 
the  names  of  more  than  two  delegates  for  each  electoral  vote.  The  same 
thing  was,  therefore,  required  of  New  York  as  was  required  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  delegation  —  that  the  delegation  should  select  the  proper  number 
to  take  seats  on  this  floor.  Mississippi  complied  with  that  requirement. 

There  are  now  here  the  proper  number  of  delegates  to  occupy  the 
seats  assigned  to  Mississippi,  though  there  are  in  the  city  over  sixty 
members  elected  delegates  from  that  State. 

A  Member  —  Eighty. 

It  was  the  pleasure  of  the  delegations  from  New  York  to  intimate 
that  such  an  arrangement  would  not  be  altogether  satisfactory,  though 
the  committee  does  not  understand  that  the  arrangement  was  peremp 
torily  declined.  I  am  requested  by  the  committee  to  state  it  would 
with  great  pleasure  have  given  tickets  to  the  whole  of  the  one  hundred 
and  forty  delegates  presenting  themselves  from  the  State  of  New  York, 
if  the  committee  could  in  any  way  have  selected  seventy  members  to 
occupy  the  seats  assigned  to  New  York.  I  desire  only  to  say  in  con 
clusion,  from  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  that  both  sets  of  dele 
gates  from  New  York  are  without,  and  demand  admission  to  this  hall. 
(Applause). 

Samuel  Medary  was  then  escorted  to  the  chair,  amid  much  applause; 
and  addressed  the  Convention  in  the  following  terms  : 

I  can  only  return  thanks  to  the  Convention  for  the  temporary  honor 
it  has  conferred  upon  me  by  selecting  me  to  preside  over  its  prelimi 
nary  deliberations.  All  that  I  can  offer  in  return  for  the  honor  of  the 
position  in  which  you  have  placed  me,  will  be  to  the  best  of  my  ab'lity, 
to  preserve  that  order  which  is  so  necessary  on  j-uch  occasions*.  While  I 
am  not  a  new  visitor  to  conventions  of  this  kind,  I  am  yet  new  to  the 
position  in  whic-h  your  kindness  has  placed  me.  I  have  been  a  dele 
gate  to  National  Conventions,  when  the  Republic  extended  but  little 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


beyond  the  city  in  which  we  are  now  assembled,  I  was  a  delegate  to 
the  first  Convention  that  nominated  General  Jackson  for  the  Presi 
dency.  I  was  then,  as  now,  one  of  the  representatives  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party  of  the  nation.  It  is  now  a  grand  party,  grasping  in  its 
arms  the  shores  of  the  two  oceans  of  the  world.  In  this  Convention 
delegates  are  present  from  the  Atlantic  slope  and  the  shores  of  the  wide 
Pacific  —  thus  manifesting  in  an  unmistakable  form,  the  progress  of 
Democratic  institutions  and  constitutional  government.  These 
are  the  institutions  and  this  the  government  which  it  is  our 
mission  to  defend  and  maintain.  I  repeat,  that  as  long  as  we  are 
governed  by  written  constitutions  and  written  laws,  we  should  observe 
that  deportment  both  personal  and  political,  which  will  justify  the 
expectation  that  we  are  capable  of  self-government.  It  is  true  that  in 
governments  like  ours,  we  may  expect  temporary  ebulitions  of  popu 
lar  excitement.  Like  the  great  ocean,  they  cannot  always  be  still. 
There  cannot  be  a  perpetual  calm.  We  may  sometimes  expect  the 
storms  which  purify  the  atmosphere. 

Gentlemen,  I  will  not  detain  you.  I  can  only  say  that  my  highest 
purpose  in  accepting  this  unexpected  promotion,  is  to  perform  the 
duties  which  it  imposes  on  me,  faithfully  and  impartially  to  all. 

And  now,  while  there  is  a  brief  silence  and  calm,  allow  me  gentlemen, 
to  introduce  the  Reverend  Mr.  Nicholson,  who  will  address  the  Throne 
of  Grace  in  behalf  of  the  Convention. 

The  Reverend  Mr,  Nicholson,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  offered  up 
the  following 

PRAYER  ; 

O  Eternal  God,  we,  Thy  helpless  creatures,  desire  to  make  our  supplications 
unto  Thee.  Thou  art  glorious  in  holiness,  fearful  in  praises,  doing  wonders. 
While  Thy  tender  mercies  are  over  all  Thy  works,  Thou  art  of  purer  eyes  than 
to  behold  iniquity,  and  Thou  puttest  away  the  wicked  like  dross.  The  very 
heavens,  we  are  assured,  are  not  clean  in  Thy  sight.  Wherewith,  then,  shall  we 
come  before  the  Lord,  and  bow  ourselves  before  the  High  God  ?  For  we  have 
erred  and  strayed  from  Thy  ways  like  lost  sheep.  We  have  followed  too  much 
the  devices  and  desires  of  our  own  hearts.  We  have  offended  against  Thy 
holy  laws.  We  have  left  undone  those  things  which  we  ought  to  have  done,  and 
we  have  done  those  things  which  we  ought  not  to  have  done,  and  there  is  no 
health  in  us.  But  oh  !  what  infinite  love  Thou  hast  manifested  towards  us  !  for 
Thou  hast  revealed  to  us  the  way  of  sahation  through  the  death  and  sacrifice 
ourof  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Thine  Eternal  Son;  in  whom  whoseverbelieveth  with 
the  heart  shall  not  die  eternally.  Oh,  Lord  God,  for  the  sake  of  Thine  only  Son, 
have  mercy  upon  us,  miserable  offenders.  Spare  Thou  those  who  confess  their 
faults.  Restore  Thou  those  who  are  penitent,  according  to  Thy  promises 
declared  unto  mankind  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  And  grant,  most  merciful 
Father,  that  hereafter  we  may  lead  a  holy,  righteous  and  sober  life,  to  the 
glory  of  thy  holy  name. 

We  approach  Thee,  0  Lord  God,  at  this  time  in  an  especial  manner,  as  the 
universal  Ruler  of  men  and  things.  Thou  conductest  both  in  heaven  and  oa 
earth  after  the  counsel  of  Thine  own  will.  Thou  settest  up  one  and  Thou 
pullest  down  another.  Thou  art  the  Avenger  of  Thy  truth  on  the  nations  that 
depart  from  Thy  ways;  while  Thou  art  the  Rewarder  of  all  such  as  diligently 
seek  Thee.  0  God,  bless  our  beloved  land!  bless  our  beloved  land!  Let  it  not  be 
said  of  us,  Ah,  sinful  nation,  a  people  laden  with  iniquity,  a  seed  of  evil-doers.. 
children  that  are  corrupters;  they  have  forsaken  the  Lord,  they  have  provoked 
the  Holy  One  to  anger,  they  are  all  gone  away  backward.  But  let  integrity,  jus- 
ice  and  the  fear  of  God  prevail  in  all  our  high  places  of  authority,  Rebuke, 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THB 


throughout  the  land  the  daring  spirit  of  infidelity  insubordination,  and  of  an 
ezcessive  worldliness.  Let  truth  and  righteousness  flow  down  all  our  streets, 
and  the  songs  of  the  righteous  be  heard  from  all  the  habitations  of  the  land. 

Most  gracious  God,  we  humbly  beseech  Thee,  as  for  the  people  of  these 
United  States  in  general,  so  especially  for  those  who,  having  come  from  all 
parts  of  our  country,  are  here  in  convention  assembled,  that  Thou  wouldst  be 
pleased  to  direct  and  prosper  all  their  consultations  to  the  advancement  of 
Thy  glory,  the  good  of  Thy  Church,  the  safety,  honor  and  welfare  of  Thy  peo 
ple;  that  all  things  may  be  so  ordered  and  settled  by  their  endeavors,  on  the 
best  and  surest  foundations ;  that  peace  and  happiness,  truth  and  justice, 
religion  and  piety,  may  be  established  among  us  for  all  generations.  To 
these  representatives  of  the  views  and  interests  of  so  large  a  proportion  of  our 
fellow-citizens  throughout  the  land,  give  a  readiness  of  mind  to  follow  the 
counsels  of  wisdom  and  experience;  take  from  them  all  self-conceit,  and 
shield  their  virtue  from  the  assaults  of  the  world,  the  flesh  and  the  devil. 
These  and  all  other  necessaries  for  them,  for  us  and  Thy  whole  Church,  we 
humbly  beg  in  the  name  and  mediation  of  Jesus  Christ,  our  most  blessed  Lord 
and  Savior. 

Almighty  God,  unto  whom  all  hearts  are  open,  all  desires  known,  and  from 
whom  no  secrets  are  hid,  cleanse  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts  by  the  inspira 
tion  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  that  we  may  perfectly  love  Thee  and  worthily  mag 
nify  Thy  holy  name,  through  Christ  our  Lord. 

Direct  us,  0  Lord,  in  all  our  doings,  with  Thy  most  gracious  favor,  and 
further  us  with  Thy  continual  help,  that  in  all  our  works  begun,  continued 
and  ended  in  Thee,  we  may  glorify  Thy  holy  name,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Savior. 

Our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  Thy  name,  Thy  kingdom  come, 
Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our  daily 
bread;  forgive  us  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  those  who  trepass  against  us; 
lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil,  for  Thine  is  the  king 
dom  and  the  power,  and  the  glory  for  ever  and  ever. 

The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  love  of  God,  and  the  fellowship  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  be  with  us  all  evermore.  Amen. 

Mr.  Brown  of  Mississippi,  offered  a  resolution  that  seat?  be  tendeied 
to  the  delegates  and  alternates  more  than  the  several  States  are  entitled 
to,  and  have  allotted  to  them  without  the  bar.  He  stated  that  there 
were  vacant  places  within  the  Convention,  and  it  was  desirable  that 
the  delegates  should  have  an  opportunity  of  consulting  their  friends, 
and  that  all  who  came  should  participate  in  the  great  patriotic  object 
for  which  they  were  assembled. 

Mr.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of  Illinois,  suggested  that  there  would  not 
be  seats  enough  for  them,  and  proposed  to  modify  the  motion  so  as  to 
refer  the  selection  of  such  as  should  have  seats,  to  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements. 

After  some  discussion,  on  motion,  the  resolution  was  for  the  present 
laid  on  the  table. 

Thomas  L.  Harris,  of  Illinois,  then  proposed  that  a  Committee  of 
Credentials,  to  be  composed  of  a  delegate  from  each  State  in  which 
there  is  no  disputed  delegation,  to  be  designated  by  the  delegation,  be 
appointed,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  report  to  the  Convention  the 
delegates  that  present  the  proper  credentials,  and  are  entitled  to  take 
their  seats  in  this  body.  Adopted. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


13 


The  several  delegations  then  gave  in  the  following  names  for  the 
Committee  on  Credentials  : 


Benjamin  Wiggin,  of  Maine, 

John  H.  George,  of  New  Hampshire, 

Bradley  Barlow,  of  Vermont, 

James  S.  Whitney,  of  Massachusetts, 

G.  S.  Cannon,  of  New  Jersey, 

Edward  A.  Phelps,  of  Connecticut, 

R.  R.  Heath,  of  North  Carolina, 

Wm.  Acklin,  of  Alabama, 

J.  Lancaster  Brent,  of  California, 

G.  F.  Neal,  of  Mississippi, 

G.  M.  Bryan,  of  Texas, 

F.  H.  Hatch,  of  Louisiana, 

James  B.  S  ted  man,  Ohio, 

John  W.  Stevenson,  of  Kentucky, 

James  H.  Thomas,  of  Tennessee, 


H.  B.  Wright,  of  Pennsylvania, 
James  A.  Bayard,  of  Delaware, 
Otho  Scott,  of  Maryland, 
Henry  J.  Burroughs  of  Rhode  Island, 
M.  R.  H.  Garnett,  of  Virginia, 
Samuel  W,  Telford,  of  Indiana, 
Calvert  Caldwell,  of  Arkansas, 
Albert  W.  Lamb,  of  Missouri, 
James  Gardiner,  of  Georgia, 
Franklin  J.  Moses,  of  South  Carolina^ 
Thomas  L.  Harris,  of  Illinois, 
William  Hale,  of  Michigan, 
David  L.  Yulee,  of  Florida, 
Bernhardt  Henn,  of  Iowa, 
Paul  Juneau,  of  Wisconsin, 


Immediately  after  the  election  of  President  pro  tern,  a  number  of  per 
sons  without  tickets  of  admission,  had  thrust  aside  the  door-keeper  and 
rushed  into  the  hall,  claiming  that  they  were  delegates  from  Missouri. 
They  had  taken  possession  of  the  vacant  seats  assigned  to  New  York. 

When  the  members  to  compose  the  Committee  on  Credentials  were 
announced,  one  of  those  claimants  from  Missouri  arose  and  said  that 
he  had  not  heard  Missouri  caller! . 

Mr.  Richardson,  of  Illinois,  said  :  Mr.  President,  I  have  no  desire  to 
interfere  in  the  affairs  of  another  State,  but  I  must  maintain,  sir,  that 
this  Convention  owes  it  to  its  dignity  and  self-respect  that  no  person 
should  be  permitted  to  enter  this  hall,  or  take  seats  on  this  floor  who 
has  entered  in  defiance  of  the  power  of  the  door-keeper.  I  have  no  de 
sire,  sir,  to  enter  into  a  discussion  of  the  matter,  but  I  declare  it  as  my 
sentimeni  and  opinion  that  this  Convention  owes  it  to  itself,  and  to  its 
dignity,  to  protect  itself  from  insult. 

The  President — I  would  inform  the  gentlemen  from  Missouri,  with 
all  kindness,  but  with  all  determination,  that  according  to  the  rules  of 
the  Convention,  seats  have  been  provided  for  the  delegations  from  each 
State,  and  that  only  such  as  have  tickets  from  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements  are  admitted  to  seats  on  this  floor.  The  delegates  hav 
ing  tickets  have  quietly  and  peaceably  taken  their  seats.  The  tempo 
rary  chairman  cannot  recognize  any  gentleman  who  is  not  entitled  to 
a  seat  under  these  rules. 

The  claimant  from  Missouri — Mr.  President — 

[Cries  of  "Order!  order!"] 

The  President — Let  me  say  a  few  words,  and  if  I  am  out  of  order 
some  one  will  doubtless  correct  me.  I  hope  the  claimants  that  have 
gained  admission  to  the  Convention,  from  Missouri,  without  tickets, 
will  listen  to  the  voice  of  an  individual  who  certainly  has  no  wish  to 
injure  them  or  prejudge  their  case.  These  gentlemen  must  apply  to  the 
Committee  on  Arrangements.  That  is  the  only  application  they  can 
make  as  the  Convention  is  at  present  organized.  I  hope  they  will 
abide  by  this  rule. 


14 


PROCEELINGS  OF  TUB 


The  Missouri  claimant — The  delegation  from  Missouri  cheerfully 
bows  to  the  decision  of  the  Convention.  And  the  whole  contesting 
delegation  arose  and  retired  from  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Bocock,  of  Virginia,  called  attention  to  the  terms  of  the  resolu 
tion  offered  by  Mr.  Harris,  whereupon  the  Missouri  delegation  to  whom 
seats  had  been  given,  withdrew  the  name  of  Mr.  Lamb,  as  a  member  of 
the  Committee  on  Credentials,  until  the  Convention  should  pass  upon 
the  contested  seats  from  that  State. 

C.  A.  Wickliff,  of  Kentucky,  renewed  the  resolution,  similar  to  that 
offered  by  Mr.  Brown,  of  Mississippi,  to  allow  alternates  seats  in,  the 
body. 

After  some  discussion  said  resolution  was  withdrawn. 

Mr.  Stedman,  from  Ohio,  presented  an  invitation  from  the  Young 
Men's  Mercantile  Library  Association,  tendering  the  use  of  their  hall 
and  library  to  the  delegates  of  the  convention. 

Mr.  McCook,  of  Ohio,  offered  the  following  resolution  : 

Rescind  That  a  committee  of  one  from  each  State  be  selected  by  the  respective  delegations,  and 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  select  permanent  officers  of  the  Convention.     Adopted. 

The  respective  delegations  announced  the  members  to  act  as  said 
Committee  as  follows : 


Maine,  J.  C.  Talbot,  jr. 
New  Hampshire,  H.  B.  Rust. 
Vermont,  Robert  Harvey, 
Georgia,  Alfred  H.  Holford. 
Massachusetts,  Isaac  Davis. 
Alabama,  John  Forsyth. 
Rhode  Island,  A.  S.  'Gallup, 
Mississippi,  E.  Barksdale, 
Connecticut,  P.  C.  Childs, 
New  Jersey,  Charles  Fink, 
Pennsylvania,  John  L.  Dawson, 
Delaware,  Dr.  C.  Caldwell, 
Louisiana,  P.  A.  Moise, 
Ohio,  G.  V.  Dorsey, 
Kentucky,  B.  L.  Clarke, 


Tennessee,  J.  K.  Walker, 
Maryland,  James  M.  Buchanan, 
Virginia,  Paulus  Powell, 
North  Carolina.  James  B.  Gordon, 
South  Carolina,  Charles  McBeth, 
Indiana,  P.  M.  Kent, 
Illinois,  T.  R.  Young, 
Missouri,  John  S.  Phelps, 
Arkansas,  R.  M.  Gi.ines, 
Michigan,  J.  G.  Thnrber, 
Florida,  Charles  E.  Dyke, 
Texas,  R.  P.  Hubbard, 
Iowa,  James  C.  Ramsey, 
Wisconsin,  Wm.  J.  Gibson, 
California,  P.  C.  Rust. 


Mr.  McCook,  of  Ohio,  offered  the  following  resolution  : 

Resofned,  That  the  Committee  on  Organization  be  instructed  to  report  rules  for  the  Government 
of  this  Convention;  and  that  in  the  meantime  the  rules  of  the  Jast  Convention  be  the  rules  of  this 
fcody.  Adopted. 

Mr.  Hallett,  of  Massachusetts,  offered  the  following  : 


Resolved,  That  a  Committee,  of  one  delegate  from  each  State,  to  be  selected  by  the  deleiation 
thereof,  be  appointed  to  report  resolutions,  and  that  all  resolutions  in  relation  to  the  Platform  of 
Che  Democratic  Party,  be  referred  to  said  Committee,  on  presentation,  without  debate. 

Mr.  Bayard,  of  Delaware,  moved  to  lay  the  resolution  on  the  table. 
Carried. 

Mr.  Butler  of  Mass.,  demanded  that  the  vote  to  lay  the  resolution, 
offered  by  him,  on  the  table,  be  taken  by  States,  and  the  States  voted  as 
follows : 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


15 


YEAS. — Connecticut,  6  ;  New  Jersey,  7  ;  Pennsylvania,  27  ;  Dela 
ware,  3  ;  Maryland,  8;  South  Carolina,  8;  Mississippi,  7;  Arkansas, 
4  ;  Michigan,  6  ;  Texas,  4;  Iowa,  4  ;  Wisconsin,  5.  Total,  84. 

NAYS. — Maine,  8;  New  Hampshire,  5;  Vermont,  5;  Massachusetts, 
13;  Rhode  Island,  3;  Virginia,  15;  North  Carolina,  10;  Georgia, 
10  ;  Alabama,  9;  Louisiana,  6;  Ohio,  23;  Kentucky,  12;  Tennessee, 
12;  Indiana,  13;  Illinois,  11;  Missouri,  9 ;  Florida,  3;  California, 
4.  Total,  177. 

The  chair  decided  the  motion  to  lay  on  ihe  table  lost.  On  motion  the 
resolution  was  then  adopted,  and  the  following  delegates  were  selected 
for  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  : 


Maine,  A.  G.  Chandler, 
New  Hampshire,  B.  F.  Aver, 
Vermont,  Charles  G.  Eastman, 
Massachusetts,  Benjamin  F.  Ilallctt, 
Delaware,  W.  Salisbury, 
Maryland,  C.  J.  M.  Gwinn, 
Virginia,  A.  A.  Chapman, 
North  Carolina,  W.  S.  Ashe, 
South  Carolina,  C.  W  Dudley, 
Georgia,  A.  R.  Wright, 
Alabama,  John  Cochran, 
Mississippi,  Jacob  Thompson, 
Louisiana,  Pierre  Sotile, 
Ohio,  C.  L.  Vallandigham, 
Kentucky,  B.  Magoffin, 


Rhode  Island,  Wm.  B.  Lawrence, 
Connecticut,  A.  B.  Hyde, 
New  Jersey,   E.  R.  V.  Wright, 
Pennsylvania,  J.  G.  Jones, 
Tennessee,  W.  A.  Quarles, 
Indiana,  J.  L.  Robinson, 
Illinois,  0.  B.  Ficklin, 
Missouri,  Thomas  B.  Hudson, 
Arkansas,  John  Hutt, 
Michigan,  W.  F.  Story, 
Florida,  S.  St.  George  Rodgers, 
Texas,  H.  P.  Bee, 
Iowa,  Thomas  S.  Wilson, 
Wisconsin,  S.  Clarke, 
California,  S.  W.  Inge. 


Mr.  Black,  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  reserve  the  front  seats  in  the 
galleries  for  the  use  of  the  ladies. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Pettit,  the  motion  was  laid  on  the  table. 

And  then  the  Convention  adjourned  until  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  to 
morrow. 


SECOND  DAY'S  PROCEEDING. 


CINCINNATI,  June  3,  1856. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  precisely  at  ten  o'clock,  by  the 
pro  tern.  President,  Samuel  Medary.  Excellent  order  prevailed  at  the 
opening  of  the  session,  and  the  temper  of  the  members  appeared  calm 
and  sedate. 

The  President — The  first  thing  in  order  will  be  the  report  of  the 
Committee  on  Permanent  Organization.  If  ready  to  report,  the  Con 
vention  will  now  receive  it. 

J.  L.  Davvson,  of  Pennsylvania — The  Committee  appointed  to  re 
commend  suitable  persons  for  permanent  officers  of  this  Convention, 
respectfully  report  the  following  : 


16 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


FOR    PRESIDENT   OF   THE   CONVENTION, 

HON.    JOHN    E.WARD,    of   Georgia. 

FOR   VICE-PRESIDENTS, 


Jonathan  Smith,  of  Maine, 

Charles  L.  Woodbury,  New  Hampshire. 

Jefferson  P.  Kidder,  Vermont. 

Henry  H.  Childs,  Massachusetts. 

Peleg  W.  Gardner,  Rhode  Island. 

James  T.  Pratt,  Connecticut. 

John  S.  Darsey,  New  Jersey. 

Arnold  Plummer,  Pennsylvania. 

Wm.  H.  Ross,  Delaware. 

C.  Humphries,  Maryland. 

Robert  A.  Banks,    Virginia. 

Bedford  Brown,  North   Corolina. 

B.  H.  Brown,  South  Carolina. 

Dr.  John  W.  Lewis,  Georgia. 

David  Hubbard,  Alabama. 


Wm.  L.  Balfour,  Mississippi. 
Alex.  Mouton,  Louisiana. 
George  W.  Belden,  Ohio. 
Levi  Tyler,  Kentucky. 
Thomas  C.  Lyon,  Tennessee. 
William  Rockhill,  Indiana. 
Joel  A.  Mattison,  Illinois. 
John  S.  Roame,  Arkansas. 
M.  E.  Crofoot,  Michigan. 
J.  T.  May  bee,  Florida. 
Matthew  Ward,  Texas. 
P.  H.  McBride,  Missouri. 
C.  J.  McFarland,  Iowa. 
Nelson  Dewey,   Wisconsin. 
J.  H.  Hill,  California. 


FOR   SECRETARIES. 


Wm.  K.  Kimball,  Maine. 

H.  Kimball,  New  Hampshire. 

Isaac  B.  Bowditch,  Vermont. 

J.  C.  Abbott,  Massachusetts. 

Wm.  J.  Miller,  Rhode  Island. 

Wm.  D.  Bishop,    Connecticut. 

Wm.  Hanna,  New  Jersey. 

John  N.  Hutchison,  Pennsylvania. 

Amos  Layman,  Ohio. 

Samuel  Williams,  Kentucky. 

Jacob  Miller,  Tennessee. 

James  Elder,  Indiana. 

0.  H.  Lamphier,  Illinois. 

Daniel  D.  Berry,  Missouri. 

R.  E.  Jackson,  Arkansas. 


W.  P.  Snow,  Maryland. 

Wm.  F.  Ritchie,   Virginia. 

H.  G.  Williams,  North   Carolina. 

B.  H.  Wilson,  South  Carolina. 
H.  Buchanan,  Georgia. 
Julius  Hessee,  Alabama. 

A.  Derbis,  Louisiana. 

W.  W.  H.  Dixon,  Mississippi. 

C.  C.  Chatfield,  Michigan. 
J.  R.  Brooks,  Florida. 
W.  C.  Pollock,  Texas. 

A.  T.  Walling,  Iowa. 
A.  T.  Gray,    Wisconsin. 
J.  N.  Dawley,  California. 


The  Committee  further  recommends  that  the  rules  and  regulations 
adopted  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  in  1852,  be  adopted 
by  this  Convention  for  its  government. 

JOHN  L.  DAWSON,  Chairman. 

J.  KNOX  WALKER,  Secretary. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Bordan,  of  Indiana,  the  report  was  unanimously 
adopted. 

The  Chair  then  appointed  Mr.  Dawson,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Mr. 
Yulee,  of  Florida,  to  conduct  the  President  elect  to  the  chair. 

Before  taking  his  seat,  the  President  addressed  the  Convention  as 
follows : 

Gentlemen  of  the  Convention  :  The  summons  to  preside  over  your  delibera 
tions  is  as  unexpected  as  it  is  grateful  to  me.  The  distinguished  gentleman 
who  yesterday  presided,  the  connecting  link  between  the  past  and  the  present, 
carried  us  back  to  that  period  in  our  history  when  the  Democratic  party 
assembled  to  give  into  the  hands  of  its  favorite  son,  its  standard  to  go  forth  to 
battle  against  a  noble  and  gallant  party.  That  party,  with  the  issues  which 
then  divided  us,  have  passed  away.  Many  of  its  leaders,  one  by  one,  have 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  17 

stolen  to  their  silent  resting  place,  filled  with  years  and  honors,  mourned  by 
political  friends  and  political  foes. 

"  How  sleep  the  brave,  who  sink  to  rest 
With  all  their  countries'  honors  blest, 
When  Spring,  with  dewey  fingers  cold, 
Returns  to  deck  their  hallowed  mold, 
She  there  shall  find  a  sweeter  sod 
Than  Fancy's  feet  have  ever  trod. 
There  Honor  comes,  a  pilgrim  gray, 
To  deck  the  mold  that  wraps  their  clay; 
And  Freedom  for  a  while  repair 
To  dwell  a  weeping  hermit  there." 

Many  of  that  noble  party  who  still  survive  are  with  us  to-day.  They  are 
with  us  in  our  deliberations,  and  they  are  prepared  to  go  forth  with  us  to 
battle  in  behalf  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union.  Why,  why,  then,  gentle 
men  of  the  Convention,  with  this  party  passed  away,  and  these  issues  settled, 
why  are  we  environed  with  difficulties,  and  surrounded  with  dangers  before 
unknown?  Our  land  is  convulsed  with  factions.  The  one,  recreant  to  the 
Constitution,  would  build  a  wall  around  our  country,  and  give  a  home  to  the 
exile  who  seeks  our  shores,  only  on  condition  that  he  renounce  all  the  privi 
leges  which  are  dear  to  freemen ;  a  party  which,  in  the  pride  of  power, 
assumes  to  dictate  to  the  consciences  of  men,  and  which  would  allow  no  man 
to  be  fit  to  serve  his  country  who  bowed  not  with  them  at  the  same  altar. 

The  other  faction — more  dangerous  only  because  it  is  more  numerous — 
has  liberty  emblazoned  on  its  banners  and  deadly  treason  festering  in  its 
heart.  It  is  engaged  in  an  unholy  crusade  against  the  Constitution,  which 
has  so  long  maintained  its  hold  on  the  affections  of  the  people,  in  the  fond 
hope  that  they  may  involve  in  one  common  ruin  all  the  glorious  recollections 
of  the  past,  and  all  our  proud  anticipations  of  the  future.  Insignificant  and 
contemptible  in  itself,  it  is  formidable  only  for  its  tendency  to  unite  with  all 
other  factions  in  their  opposition  to  a  party  which  makes  no  concessions, 
courts  no  alliances,  asks  no  affiliations. 

From  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  from  the  mountains  of  the  North,  from  the 
plains  of  the  South,  from  the  valleys  of  the  West,  delegates  have  come  up  to 
day  to  present  a  platform  and  to  select  a  standard  bearer  in  the  great  con 
test  against  these  factions.  Uniting  as  a  band  of  brothers  around  the  altar 
of  our  common  country,  let  us  lay  upon  that  altar,  as  a  willing  sacrifice,  our 
personal  aspirations,  our  sectional  prejudices,  and  above  and  beyond  all,  our 
private  friendships. 

With  an  abiding  confidence  that  the  kindness  which  has  summoned  me  to 
this  place,  will  sustain  me  in  the  performance  of  its  duties,  and  will  gener 
ously  pardon  my  errors,  I  assume  the  trust  committed  to  me. 

The  Vice  Presidents  and  Secretaries  were  then  invited  to  take  seats 
on  the  stand. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Bayard,  of  Delaware,  submitted  the  following  : 

REPORT   OP   THE    COMMITTEE    ON   CREDENTIALS. 

Your  Committee  proceeded  yesterday,  after  the  adjournment  of  the 
Convention,  in  the  performance  of  the  duty  assigned  to  them,  and  find 
that  all  the  States  of  the  Union,  except  the  State  of  New  York,  are 
represented  in  the  Convention  hy  delegates  duly  elected  in  the  several 
States,  hy  State  or  District  organizations  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
they  append  to  this  report,  as  part  thereof,  full  lists  of  the  delegates 
so  elected. 

There  were  contesting  claimants  of  the  seats  held  by  the  delegation 


13  PROCEEDINGS  OF   THE 


from  Missouri,  who  claim  to  be  admitted  either  in  part  or  in  whole  as 
delegates  from  the  same  State. 

The  following  gentlemen,  claiming  to  be  the  regular  delegation  from 
the  Democracy  of  Missouri,  had,  on  prima  facia  evidence,  been 
assigned  seats  in  the  Convention  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements 
viz  : 

Wm.  A.  Harris,  E.  D.  Bevitt,  James  S.  Green,  A.  W.  Lamb,  P. 
H.  McBride,  Wm.  Shields,  R.  H,  Stephens,  S.  R.  Shrader,  John  S. 
McCracken,  Thos.  B.  English,  Joseph  Coffman,  Thomas  B.  Hudson, 
D.  D.  Berry,  Fred.  Kennett,  Dr.  W.  Watson,  James  Craig,  John  S. 
Phelps,  and  were  represented  before  the  committee  by  Messrs.  Green 
and  Phelps. 

The  contesting  parties  who  claimed  seats  were  B.  Gratz  Brown, 
Barton  Able,  P.  J.  McSherry,  Stephen  Rice,  S.  J.  Lowe,  Jacob  Hall, 
Logan  Clarke,  John  M.  Richardson,  A.  McCoy,  John  D.  Stevenson, 
Thomas  L.  Price,  John  C.  Walker,  Patrick  H.  Davis,  Madison  Miller, 
P.  Harney,  J.  S.  Foy,  George  Smith  and  Samuel  Simmons,  and  were 
represented  before  the  committee  by  Messrs.  Price  and  Brown. 

The  committee  deem  it  unnecessary  to  recapitulate  the  arguments 
and  statement  of  facts  of  either  side,  and  confine  themselves  to  the  con 
clusion  to  which  they  have  arrived. 

After  hearing  fully  the  representatives  of  each  contesting  delegation, 
the  following  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  delegates  from  the  State  of  Missouri,  represented  before  the  Com 
mittee  by  Messrs.  Green  and  Phelps,  are  the  duly  elected  delegates  of  the  Democracy  of  Missouri, 
and  are  entitled  to  their  seats  in  the  National  Convention,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  contesting  claim 
ants,  represented  by  Messrs.  Price  and  Brown. 

The  length  of  time  occupied  in  hearing  the  parties  to  the  contested 
seats  in  Missouri  has  prevented  any  hearing  of  the  two  sets  of  delegates 
from  New  York,  who  claim  respectively  to  represent  the  Democracy 
of  New  York,  but  that  hearing  has  been  commenced  this  morning,  and 
will  be  concluded  as  speedily  as  justice  to  the  parties  will  permit,  and 
be  made  the  subject  of  a  further  report. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

June  3,  1856.  J.  A.  BAYARD,  Chairman. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  C.  T.  McFarland  of  Iowa,  the  report  of  the  Com 
mittee  was,  amid  great  applause,  unanimously  concurred  in,  and  the 
delegates  from  Missouri  holding  seats  were  declared  entitled  to  the  same, 
to  the  exclusion  of  their  contestants. 

Mr.  Bayard  asked,  in  behalf  of  the  Committee  on  Credentials,  that 
they  be  allowed  1o  sit  during  the  session  of  the  Convention,  which  was 
granted. 

Mr.  Green,  of  Missouri,  moved  that  the  name  of  A.  W.  Lamb  be 
now  added  to  those  of  the  Committee  on  Credentials.  Adopted. 

A  delegate  from  Alabama  moved  a  resolution  to  admit  the  delegates 
from  the  District  of  Columbia  into  the  Convention,  to  participate  in 
the  deliberations  and  action  of  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Twyman,  of  Kentucky,  was  opposed  to  the  delegates  from  the 
District  of  Columbia,  who  had  no  votes  for  the  Presidency,  partici 
pating  in  the  action  of  the  Convention.  He  had  no  objection  to  their 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  19 

admission,  as  lookers-on,  in  the  hall.  He  moved  to  lay  the  resolution 
on  the  table. 

Mr.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  of  Illinois,  endeavored  to  address  the  Con 
vention  on  this  question,  but  the  Chair  decided  that  he  was  not  in 
order. 

Mr.  Harris  said  that  he  did  not  wish  to  discuss  the  question ;  he 
merely  wished  to  read  a  telegraphic  despatch  which  he  held  in  his  hand, 
announcing  that  the  Democracy  of  the  District  of  Columbia  had  carried 
the  election  in  Washington  by  a  handsome  majority.  (Great  applause 
and  hurrahs.) 

The  motion  to  lay  upon  the  table  the  resolutions  admitting  the  dele 
gates  from  the  District  of  Columbia,  was  then  put  and  adopted  by  a 
large  majority. 

Mr.  Brown,  of  Mississippi,  offered  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  seats  in  the  galleries  of  this  hall  be  declared  vacant,  and.  that  the  National 
Democratic  Convention  divide  them,  pro  rata,  among  the  States  and  Territories,  and  issue  tickets 
accordingly  and  deliver  them  to  the  delegations  from  the  several  States  ;  Provided,  that  no  more 
persons  be  admitted  than  can  be  conveniently  and  safely  accommodated. 

Mr.  Mickle  of  New  Jersey  offered  the  following  amendment : 

Resolved,  That  the  galleries  on  the  right  of  the  President  be  appropriated  exclusively  for  the  use 
of  the  ladies,  and  gentlemen  accompanying  them. 

Mr.  Avery,  of  North  Carolina,  moved  to  lay  the  resolution  and 
amendment  on  the  table.  The  votes  by  States  being  called  for,  resulted 
as  follows : 

YEAS. — Massachusetts,  13;  Rhode  Island,  4;  Connecticut,  6;  New 
Jersey,  7;  Pennsylvania,  21;  Delaware,  3;  North  Carolina,  10;  South 
Carolina,  8;  Georgia,  6;  Louisiana,  6 ;  Ohio,  12 ;  Tennessee,  12;  In 
diana,  13;  Illinois,  11;  Arkansas,  4;  Michigan,  6;  Texas,  4;  Iowa, 
4;  Wisconsin,  5;  California,  4.  Total,  159. 

NAYS. — Maine,  8;  New  Hampshire,  5;  Vermont,  5;  Pennsylvania,  6; 
Maryland,  8;  Virginia,  15;  Georgia,  4 ;  Alabama,  9;  Mississippi,  7;. 
Ohio,  12;  Kentucky,  12;  Missouri,  9;  Florida,  3.  Total,  103. 

And  the  resolution  and  amendment  were  laid  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Meade,  of  Virginia;  moved  that  a  ticket  of  admission  be  issued 
to  Mr.  D.  B.  Layne,  a  delegate  to  the  Convention,  whose  ticket  had 
been  lost.  Adopted. 

Judge  Mason,  of  Maryland,  offered  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved.  That  the  galleries  be  cleared,  and  that  the  Committee  on  Organization  be  instructed  to 
issue  three  tickets  to  each  delegate  of  the  Convention,  for  distribution. 

Mr.  Mason  modified  the  resolution  by  inserting  one  instead  of  three. 

Mr.  Hubbard,  of  Iowa,  moved  to  lay  the  resolution  on  the  table.  A 
call  by  States  being  made,  resulted  as  follows  : 

YEAS. — New  Hampshire,  5;  Massachusetts,  13,  Rhode  Island,  4; 
Connecticut,  6;  New  Jersey,  7;  Pennsylvania,  27,  Delaware,  3;  North 
Carolina,  11;  South  Carolina,  8;  Georgia,  6;  Louisiana,  6;  Illinois,  11; 
Missouri,  9;  Michigan,  6;  Texas,  4;  Iowa,  4;  Wisconsin,  2;  Califor 
nia,  4.  Total,  136. 


20  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


.  —  Maine,  8;  Vermont,  5;  Maryland,  8;  Virginia,  15,  Georgia, 
4;  Alabama,  9;  Mississippi,  7;  Ohio,  24;  Kentucky,  12;  Tennessee,  12; 
Indiana,  13;  Arkansas,  4;  Florida,  3;  Wisconsin,  2.  Total,  126. 

And  the  resolution  was  laid  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Singleton,  of  Mississippi,  offered  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  galleries  of  this  hall  be  declared  free  to  all  spectators. 

Mr.  Wilson,  of  Iowa,  offered  the  following  amendment  :  That  the 
question  of  admission  of  persons  to-  seats  in  the  galleries,  be  referred  to 
the  Committee  on  Organization,  with  directions  to  adopt  some  equal 
and  just  plan  for  the  admission  of  persons  from  the  several  States  ; 
and  that  said  Committee  report  to  the  Convention  as  early  as  prac 
ticable. 

On  motion  the  resolution  and  amendment  were  laid  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Moore,  of  Maine  offered  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  be  instructed  to  i&sue  no  more  tickets  of  admis 
sion  to  this  hall,  without  the  special  order  of  this  Convention, 

Mr.  Pettit,  of  Indiana,  moved  that  the  galleries  be  cleared,  which 
motion  was  lost. 

Mr.  Vallandigham,  of  Ohio,  moved  to  refer  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Moore, 
of  Maine,  and  all  other  resolutions  on  the  subject,  to  the  Committee  of 
Arrangements. 

Mr.  McMullen,  of  Virginia,  moved  to  lay  the  resolution  on  the  table. 
Carried. 

Mr.  Thompson,  of  Mississippi,  offered  the  following  resolution  : 


Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Arrangements  b&  instructed  to  admit  Mr.  J.  W.  McDonald  to 
his  seat  as  reporter  from  Mississippi.    Adopted. 

After  several  motions  to  amend,  and  considerable  debate  with  refer 
ence  to  the  galleries, 

Mr.  McLane,  of  Maryland,  said  —  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  I 
desire  to  say,  on  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  that  in 
this  hall  it  is  absolutely  impossible  to  seat  a  number  of  persons  greater 
than  the  number  that  has  been  provided  for.  I  will  state  further,  that 
it  was  not  the  design  of  the  Committee  originally  to  apply  the  gal 
leries  to  the  use  of  the  press.  It  was  designed  to  seat  the  reporters  for 
the  various  newspapers  on  the  platform  on  each  side  of  the  President. 
That  was  the  arrangement  made  for  the  press.  If  gentlemen  will  look 
at  the  platform  and  consider  that,  in  the  plan  of  organization  now 
adopted,  room  must  be  made  for  three  Vice-Presidents,  and  thirty  -one 
Secretaries,  they  will  see  that  the  press  had  as  large  a  space  as  possible 
devoted  to  their  use.  I  would  remark  that  over  three  hundred  appli 
cations  were  made  for  tickets  by  gentlemen,  under  the  style  of  repor 
ters  for  the  press  .  In  very  few  cases  was  it  believed  that  these  were 
efficient  reporters  of  the  proceedings  of  this  Convention.  In  very  few 
cases  did  they  profess  to  be  so.  They  simply  professed  to  be  attached  to 
corps  of  reporters.  The  Committee"  of  Arrangements,  of  which  I  am 
not  a  member,  but  which  I  have  been  requested  to  represent  on  this 
floor,  deemed  it  proper  that  these  gentlemen  should  be  admitted  as 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  21 

reporters,  and  have  seats  in  the  galleries  as  such.  The  Committee  did 
not  think  it  ought  to  take  the  responsibility  of  saying  to  these  gentle 
men  who  professed  to  be  reporters  of  the  press,  that  they  could  not 
have  seats  when  there  was  a  place  for  them.  But  they  understood  very 
well  that  it  was  the  right  of  the  Convention  when  organized  to  appro 
priate  the  galleries  to  its  own  use.  It  is  idle  to  suppose  that  the  Con 
vention  has  no  such  right.  But  it  is  the  misfortune  of  this  Conven 
tion  that  there  is  no  hall  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati  suitable  for  its  ac 
commodation. 

With  these  views  I  have  suggested  to  the  honorable  member  from 
Mississippi,  and  to  the  Convention,  that  this  resolution  be  withdrawn, 
and  that  the  Committee  of  Arrangements  be  instructed  to  issue  new 
tickets  for  the  galleries,  under  the  direction  of  the  President.  The  pre 
sent  gallery  tickets  will  be  cancelled  after  to-day.  This  suggestion  was 
adopted,  and  the  Committee  so  instructed. 

D.  C.  Buel,  of  California,  moved  that  the  Convention  appoint  one 
Seargant-at-Arms,  and  two  deputies,  for  the  Convention- 

Dr.  Cottman,  of  Louisiana,  suggested  that  the  Committee  of  Ar 
rangements  appoint  these  officers. 

Some  one  else  proposed  that  the  President  make  these  appointments. 
Adopted. 

Mr.  McMullen,  of  Virginia,  moved  that  the  Convention,  when  it 
adjourns,  adjourn  to  to-morrow  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M.  Adopted. 

A  letter  of  invitation  to  use  their  hall,  was  read  from  the  Young 
Men's  Democratic  Association  ;  also,  a  letter  from  the  Horticultural 
Society  of  Ohio,  inviting  the  members  to  attend  their  exhibition  on 
Elm  street,  on  Thursday  next. 

Judge  Clitherall,  of  Alabama,  moved  a  resolution  that  each  delegate, 
when  addressing  the  Convention,  should  proceed  to  the  stand  and  ad 
dress  the  body  from  that  place.  Rejected. 

On  motion  of  Hon.  J.  L.  Dawson,  ©f  PeniL,  the  Convention  took 
a  recess  until  four  o'clock. 

AFTERNOON    SESSION. 

At  4  o'clock  the  President  called  the  Convention  to  order. 

Hilliard  Salisbury,  of  Delaware — Mr.  President,  I  desire  to  state 
that,  as  I  am  informed,  there  are  now  in  Cincinnati  fifteen  or  twenty 
members  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States,  who  have  come  here  with  the  expectation  of  witnessing,  or 
participating  in  this  Convention,  I  offer  this  resolution: 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  members  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States,  who  may  be  in  Cincinnati  during  the  session  of  the  Convention,  are  invited  to 
take  seats  on  the  platform  and  floor  of  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Chapman,  of  Alabama — I  move  to  amend,  by  inviting  the  mem 
bers  of  the  different  State  Legislatures  who  may  be  now  in  the  city. 

After  some  debate,  Mr.  A  very  of  K  C.,  said— -As  this  Convention 
has  no  time  to  send  out  and  collect  the  balance  of  mankind,  I  move  to 
Jay  the  resolution  and  amendments  on  the  table. 

The  motion  to  lay  them  on  the  table  was  carried. 


22  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


Mr.  Petit,  of  Indiana — I  desire  to  inquire,  for  I  have  been  informally 
informed  that  such  is  the  case,  whether  the  Committee  on  Resolutions 
is  ready  to  report.  If  they  are  ready  I  desire  to  move  that  they  be 
permitted  to  report. 

Mr.  Wilson — The  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  is 
absent  from  his  seat,  and,  therefore,  cannot  answer.  I  am  informed, 
however,  that  the  Committee  will  not  be  prepared  to  report  ^.till 
to-morrow  morning  at  10  o'clock. 

Mr.  P.  C.  Child  of  Connecticut,  said — Mr.  President,  I  wish  members 
of  this  honorable  body,  assembled  from  all  sections  of  the  country,  to 
set  apart  a  short  period  for  communing  with  each  other,  and  telling 
each  other  their  experience  in  the  Democratic  church.  Certainly,  the 
time  not  devoted  to  the  business  which  has  called  us  hither,  could  not 
be  more  usefully  or  profitably  employed.  I  stand  here,  sir,  in  this 
National  Convention,  composed  of  delegates  from  the  democracy  of 
every  State  of  our  glorious  confederacy,  a  representative  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut — a  representative  from  the  county  of  Wyndham,  more 
commonly  called  "  Wolf  Den"  county,  the  county  which  was  the 
residence  of  that  ever-to-be-remembered  hero  who  fought  shoulder  to 
^  shoulder  with  the  patriots  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  patriots  of  South 
Carolina,  in  that  revolutionary  struggle  by  which  was  achieved  the 
freedom  we  now  enjoy.  It  will  be  remembered  here,  on  this  occasion, 
when  we  have  again  assembled  in  a  spirit  of  harmony  and  fraternity, 
in  the  defense  of  a  common  cause,  and  the  pursuit  of  a  common 
object,  that  South  Carolina  was  one  of  the  immortal  Thirteen.  It 
will  also  be  remembered  Connecticut,  the  State  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  represent  was  also  one  of  the  immortal  Thirteen.  My  object 
in  introducing  this  resolution  is  for  the  purpose  of  allowing  time  for  the 
different  delegations  from  the  various  paits  of  this  great  Union,  to  com 
pare  notes  with  each  other.  I  hope,  as  there  is  nothing  else  to  occupy 
the  time  and  attention  of  this  body,  that  an  opportunity  will  be  pre 
sented  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  purpose,  and  for  allowing  mem 
bers  to  tell  their  experience  in  the  different  States  of  the  confederacy." 

Mr.  Child's  resolution  was  one  of  invitation  to  the  delegates  from 
the  various  States,  to  give  their  views  on  the  present  state  of  parties. 
The  resolution  was  not  acted  on. 

Mr  Phelps,  of  Missouri,  proposed  a  resolution  that  the  Committee 
on  resolutions  be  authorized  to  have  their  report  printed  so  that  it 
could  be  laid  before  all  the  members,  and  made  the  order  of  the  Con 
vention  to-morrow. 

Mr.  Hallett,  of  Massachusetts,  stated  that  there  would  be  one  more 
meeting  of  the  Committee,  that  the  resolutions  were  nearly  all  agreed 
upon,  and  that  steps  had  already  been  taken  to  have  the  resolutions 
printed,  and  that  they  would  be  reported  to-morrow  at  10  o'clock. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Petit,  of  Indiana,  the  Convention  then  adjourned 
till  to-morrow,  Wednesday,  June  4,  at  10  o'clock,  A.  M. 


ATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  23 


THIRD  DAY'S  PROCEEDINGS. 

MORNING  SESSION,  JUNE  4,  1856. 

At  ten  o'clock  the  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  the  President, 
General  Ward. 

After  waiting  some  time,  Mr.  Stewart,  of  Maryland,  called  the 
attention  of  the  Convention  to  the  necessity  of  transacting  business  in 
its  regular  order,  and  as  speedily  as  possible.  He  supposed  the  report 
of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  was  first  in  order,  and  if  so,  he  would 
now  call  for  it. 

Mr.  Hallett,  (who  had  ascended  the  platform)  said — He  would  state 
that  the  Committee  is  prepared  to  make  its  repoit  as  soon  as  the 
Convention  is  ready  to  receive  it. 

[Voices. — Now  !  Now !] 

The  President. — The  Convention  must  come  to  entire  order  before 
the  Chairman  will  proceed  to  read  the  resolutions. 

The  Convention  having  come  to  order,  Mr.  Hallett  said: 

I  have  been  instructed,  as  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  reso 
lutions,  to  report  to  this  Convention  the  platform  of  resolutions  which 
they  have  adopted.  I  am  also  instructed  by  the  Committee  to  say 
that  the  portion  of  the  resolutions  which  relates  toKanzas  and  Nebras 
ka,  and  those  propositions  concerning  the  administration  of  the  Gen 
eral  Government,  have  been  adopted  by  the  Committee  with  entire 
unanimity,  every  member  from  every  State  having  signified  his  perfect 
acquiescence  in  these  resolutions.  There  is  another  and  very  important 
class  of  resolutions,  relating  to  the  foreign  policy  of  the  country. 
While  these  resolutions  have  been  recommended  by  the  Committee  as 
as  a  portion  of  the  platform,  it  is  proper  to  state  that  they  were  not 
adopted  with  entire  unanimity.  I  am  also  instructed  to  report  a  reso 
lution,  as  recommended  by  the  Committee,  concerning  communica 
tion  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans. 

With  these  explanations  I  shall  proceed  to  read  the  resolutions: 

REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  ON  RESOLUTIONS. 

The    Committee  on  Resolutions,  by  their  Chairman,  Mr.  Hallett,  of  Massachusetts, 
submit  the  following  Report: 

Resolved,  That  the  American  Democracy  place  their  trust  in  the  intelligence, 
the  patriotism,  and  the  discriminating  justice  of  the  American  people. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  this  as  a  distinctive  feature  of  our  political  creed, 
which  we  are  proud  to  maintain  before  the  world,  as  the  great  moral  element 
in  a  form  of  government  springing  from  and  upheld  by  the  popular  will ;  and 
we  contrast  it  with  the  creed  and  practice  of  Federalism,  under  whatever 
name  or  form,  which  seeks  to  palsy  the  will  of  the  constituent,  and  which 
conceives  no  imposture  too  monstrous  foi  the  popular  credulity. 

Resolved,  therefore,  That,  entertaining  these  views,  the  Democratic  party  of 
this  Union,  through  their  Delegates  assembled  in  a  general  Convention,  coming 
together  in  a  spirit  of  concord,  of  devotion  to  the  doctrines  and  faith  of  a  free 
representative  government,  and  appealing  to  their  fellow-citizens  for  the  recti- 


24  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


tude  of  their  intentions,  renew  and  re-assert  before  the  American  people,  the 
declarations  of  principles  avowed  by  them  when,  on  former  occasions  in 
general  Convention,  they  have  presented  their  candidates  for  the  popular 
suffrages. 

1.  That  the  Federal  Government  is  one  of  limited  power,  derived  solely 
from  the  Constitution;  and  the   grants   of  power  made  therein  ought  to  be 
strictly  construed  by  all  the  departments  and  agents  of  the  government ;  and 
that  it  is   inexpedient   and  dangerous  to   exercise   doubtful   constitutional 
powers. 

2.  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  upon  the  General  Government  the 
power  to  commence  and  carry  on  a  general  system  of  internal  improvements. 

3.  That  the  Constitution  does  not  confer  authority  upon  the  Federal  Govern 
ment,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  assume  the  debts  of  the  several  States,  con 
tracted  for  local  and  internal  improvements,  or  other  State  purposes;  nor  would 
such  assumption  be  just  or  expedient. 

4.  That  justice  and  sound  policy  forbid  the  Federal  Government  to  foster 
one  branch  of  industry  to  the  detriment  of  any  other,  or  to  cherish  the  inte 
rests  of  one  portion  to  the  injury  of  another  portion  of  our  common  country; 
that  every  citizen  and  every  section  of  the  country  has  a  right  to  demand  and 
insist  upon  an  equality  of  rights  and  privileges,   and  to  complete  an  ample 
protection  of  persons  and  property  from  domestic  violence  or  foreign  aggres 
sion. 

5.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  branch  of  the  Government  to  enforce  and 
practice  the  most  rigid  economy  in  conducting  our  public  affairs,  and  that  no 
more  revenue  ought  to  be  raised  than   is  required  to  defray  the  necessary 
expenses  of  the  Government,  and  for  the  gradual,  but  certain  extinction  of 
the  public  debt. 

6.  That  the  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  ought  to  be  sacredly  applied  to  the 
national  objects  specified  in  the  Constitution ;  and  that  we  are  opposed  to  any 
law  for  the  distribution  of  such  proceeds  among  the  States,  as  alike  inexpe 
dient  in  policy  and  repugnant  to  the  Constitution. 

7.  That  Congress  has  no  power  to  charter  a  national  bank  ;  that  we  believe 
such  an  institution  one  of  deadly  hostility  to  the  best  interests  of  the  country, 
dangerous  to  our  republican  institutions  and   the  liberties  of  the  people,  and 
calculated  to  place  the  business  of  the  country  within  the  control  of  a  concen 
trated  money  power,  and  above  the  laws  and  the  will  of  the  people;  and  that 
the  results  of  Democratic  legislation  in  this  and  all  other  financial  measures 
upon  which  issues  have  been  made  between  the   two  political  parties  of  the 
country,  have  demonstrated  to  candid  and  practical  men  of  all  parties,  their 
soundness,  safety,  and  utility,  in  all  business  pursuits. 

8.  That  the  separation  of  the  moneys  of  the  Government  from  banking 
institutions  is  indispensable  for  the  safety  of  the  funds  of  the  Government, 
and  the  rights  of  the  people. 

9.  That  we  are  decidedly  opposed  to  taking  from  the  President  the  qualified 
veto  power,  by  which  he  is  enabled,  under  restrictions  and  responsibilities 
amply  sufficient  to  guard  the  public  interests,  to  suspend  the  passage  of  a  bill 
whose  merits  cannot  secure  the  approval  of  two-thirds  of  the   Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives,  until  the  judgment  of  the  people  can  be  obtained 
thereon,  and  which  has  saved  the  American  people  from  the  corrupt  and  tyran 
nical  domination  of  the  Bank  of  the  United  States,  and  from  a  corrupting 
system  of  general  internal  improvements. 

10.  That  the  liberal  principles  embodied  by  Jefferson  in  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  sanctioned  in  the  Constitution,  which  makes  ours  the  land 
of  liberty,  and  the  asylum  of  the  oppressed  of  every  nation,  have  ever  been 
cardinal  principles  in  the  Democratic  faith,  and  every  attempt  to  abridge  the 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  25 

privilege  of  becoming  citizens  and  the  owners  of  soil  among  us,  ought  to  be 
resisted  with  the  same  spirit  which  swept  the  alien  and  sedition  laws  from 
our  statute  books. 

And,  WHEREAS,  Since  the  foregoing  declaration  was  uniformly  adopted  by 
our  predecessors  in  National  Conventions,  an  adverse  political  and  religious 
test  has  been  secretly  organized  by  a  party  claiming  to  be  exclusively  Ame 
rican,  it  is  proper  that  the  American  Democracy  should  clearly  define  its 
relation  thereto,  and  declare  its  determined  opposition  to  all  secret  political 
societies,  by  whatever  name  they  may  be  called. 

Resolved,  That  the  foundation  of  this  union  of  States  having  been  laid  in, 
and  its  prosperity,  expansion,  and  pre-eminent  example  in  free  government, 
built  upon  entire  freedom  in  matters  of  religious  concernment,  and  no  re 
spect  of  person  in  regard  to  rank  or  place  of  birth ;  no  party  can  justly  be 
deemed  national,  constitutional,  or  in  accordance  with  American  principles, 
which  bases  its  exclusive  organization  upon  religious  opinions  and  accidental 
birth-place.  And  hence  a  political  crusade  in  the  nineteenth  century,  and  in 
the  United  States  of  America,  against  Catholic  and  foreign-born,  is  neither 
justified  by  the  past  history  or  the  future  prospects  of  the  country,  nor  in 
unison  with  the  spirit  of  toleration  and  enlarged  freedom  which  peculiarly 
distinguishes  the  American  system  of  popular  government. 

Resolved,  That  we  reiterate  with  renewed  energy  of  purpose,  the  well  con 
sidered  declarations  of  former  Conventions  upon  the  sectional  issue  of  Domes 
tic  Slavery,  and  concerning  the  reserved  rights  of  the  States. 

1.  That  Congress  has  no  power  under  the  Constitution,  to  interfere  with  or 
control  the  domestic  institutions  of  the  several  States,  and  that  such  States 
are  the  sole  and  proper  judges  of  everything  appertaining  to  their  own  affairs, 
not  prohibited  by  the  Constitution ;  that  all  efforts  of  the  abolitionists,  or 
others,  made  to  induce  Congress  to  interfere  with  questions  of  slavery,  or  to 
take  incipient  steps  in  relation  thereto,  are  calculated  to  lead  to  the  most 
alarming  and  dangerous  consequences;  and  that  all  such  efforts  have  an  in 
evitable  tendency  to  diminish  the  happiness  of  the  people,  and  endanger  the 
stability  and  permanency  of  the  Union,  and  ought  not  to  be  countenanced  by 
any  friend  of  our  political  institutions. 

2.  That  the  foregoing  proposition  covers,  and  was  intended  to  embrace,  the 
whole  subject  of  slavery  agitation  in  Congress  ;  and  therefore,  the  Democratic 
party  of  the  Union,  standing  on  this  national  platform,  will  abide  by  and 
adhere  to  a  faithful  execution  of  the  acts  known  as  the  Compromise  measures, 
settled  by  the  Congress  of  1850 ;  "  the  act  for  reclaiming  fugitives  from  ser 
vice  or  labor,"  included;  which  act  being  designed  to  carry  out  an  express 
provision  of  the  Constitution,  cannot,  with  fidelity  thereto,  be  repealed,  or  so 
changed  as  to  destroy  or  impair  its  efficiency. 

3.  That  the  Democratic  party  will  resist  all  attempts  at  renewing,  in  Con 
gress  or  out  of  it,  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question  under  whatever  shape 
or  color  the  attempt  may  be  made. 

4.  That  the  Democratic  party  will  faithfully  abide  by  and  uphold,  the  prin 
ciples  laid  down  in  the  Kentucky  and  Virginia  resolutions  of  1798,  and  in 
the  report  of  Mr.  Madison  to  the  Virginia  Legislature,  in  1799:  that  it  adopts 
those  principles  as  constituting   one  of  the  main  foundations  of  its  political 
creed,  and  is  resolved  to  carry  them  out  in  their  obvious  meaning  and  import. 

And  that  we  may  more  distinctly  meet  the  issue  on  which  a  sectional  party, 
subsisting  exclusively  on  slavery  agitation,  now  relies  to  test  the  fidelity  of 
the  people,  north  and  south,  to  the  Constitution  and  the  Union — 

1.  Resolved,  That  claiming  fellowship  with,  and  desiring  the  co-operation  of 
all  who  regard  the  preservation  of  the  Union  under  the  Constitution  as  the 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


paramount  issue — and  repudiating  all  sectional  parties  and  platforms  con 
cerning  domestic  slavery,  which  seek  to  embroil  the  States  and  incite  to  trea 
son  and  armed  resistance  to  law  in  the  Territories;  and  whose  avowed  pur 
poses,  if  consummated,  must  end  in  civil  war  and  disunion.  The  American 
Democracy  recognize  and  adopt  the  principles  contained  in  the  organic  laws 
establishing  the  Territories  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska  as  embodying  the  only 
sound  and  safe  solution  of  the  "slavery  question"  upon  which  the  great  na 
tional  idea  of  the  people  of  this  whole  country  can  repose  in  its  determined 
conservatism  of  the  Union— NON-INTERFERENCE  BY  CONGRESS  WITH  SLAVERY  IN 
STATE  AND  TERRITORY,  OR  IN  THE  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

2.  That  this  was  the  basis  of  the  Compromises  of  1850 — confirmed  by  both 
the  Democratic  and  Whig  parties  in  national  Conventions— ratified  by  the 
people  in  the  election  of  1852— and  rightly  applied  to  the  organization  of 
Territories  in  1854. 

3.  That  by  the  uniform  application  of  this   Democratic  principle  to  the 
organization  of  territories,  and  to  the  admission  of  new  States,  with  or  with  • 
out  domestic  slavery,  as  they  may  elect — the  equal  rights  of  all  the  States 
will  be  preserved  intact — the  original  compacts  of  the  Constitution  maintained 
inviolate — and  the  perpetuity  and  expansion   of  this  Union  insured  to  its 
utmost  capacity  of  embracing,  in  peace  and  harmony,  every  future  American 
State  that  may  be  constituted  or  annexed,  with  a  republican  form  of  govern 
ment. 

Resolved,  That  we  recognize  the  right  of  the  people  of  all  the  Territories, 
including  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  acting  through  the  legally  and  fairly  ex 
pressed  will  of  a  majority  of  actual  residents,  and  whenever  the  number  of 
their  inhabitants  justifies  it;  to  form  a  Constitution,  with  or  without  domestic 
slavery,  and  be  admitted  into  the  Union  upon  terms  of  perfect  equality  with 
the  other  States. 

Resolved,  finally,  That  in  the  view  of  the  condition  of  popular  institutions  in 
the  Old  World  (and  the  dangerous  tendencies  of  sectional  agitation,  combined 
with  the  attempt  to  enforce  civil  and  religious  disabilities  against  the  rights 
of  acquiring  and  enjoying  citizenship,  in  our  own  land) — a  high  and  sacred 
duty  is  devolved  with  increased  responsibility  upon  the  Democratic  party  of 
this  country,  as  the  party  of  the  Union,  to  uphold  and  maintain  the  rights  of 
every  State,  and  thereby  the  Union  of  the  States ;  and  to  sustain  and  advance 
among  us  constitutional  liberty,  by  continuing  to  resist  all  monopolies  and 
exclusive  legislation  for  the  benefit  of  the  few,  at  the  expense  of  the  many, 
and  by  a  vigilant  and  constant  adherence  to  those  principles  and  compromises 
of  the  Constitution,  which  are  broad  enough  and  strong  enough  to  embrace 
and  uphold  the  Union  as  it  was,  the  Union  as  it  is,  and  the  Union  as  it  shall 
be,  in  the  full  expansion  of  the  energies  and  capacity  of  this  great  and  pro 
gressive  people. 

1.  Resolved,  That  there  are  questions  connected  with  the  foreign  policy  of 
this  country,  which  are  inferior  to  no  domestic  question  whatever.     The  time 
has  come  for  the  people  of  the  United  States  to  declare  themselves  in  favor  of 
free  seas  and  progressive  free  trade  throughout   the  world,    and,  by  solemn 
manifestations,  to  place  their  moral  influence  at  the  side  of  their  successful 
example. 

2.  Resolved,  That  our  geographical  and  political  position   with   reference 
to  the  other  States  of  this  continent,  no  less  than  the  interest  of  our  commerce 
and  the  development  of  our  growing  power,  requires  that  we  should  hold  as 
sacred    the   principles  involved  in  the  Monroe  Doctrine:  their  bearing  and 
import  admit  of  no  misconstruction;  they  should  be  applied  with  unbending 
rigidity. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  great  highway  which  nature,  as  well  as  the  assent  of 
the  States  most  immediately  interested  in  its  maintainance,  has  marked  out 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  27 

for  a  free  communication  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  oceans,  consti 
tutes  one  of  the  most  important  achievements  realized  by  the  spirit  of  modern 
times  and  the  unconquerable  energy  of  our  people.  That  result  should  be 
secured  by  a  timely  and  efficient  exertion  of  the  control  which  we  have  the 
right  to  claim  over  it,  and  no  power  on  earth  should  be  suffered  to  impede  or 
clog  its  progress  by  any  interference  with  the  relations  it  may  suit  our  policy 
to  establish  between  our  government  and  the  Governments  of  the  States  within 
whose  dominions  it  lies.  We  can,  under  no  circumstance,  surrender  our  pre 
ponderance  in  the  adjustment  of  all  questions  arising  out  of  it. 

4.  Resolved,  That,  in  view  of  so  commanding  an  interest,  the  people  of  the 
United  States  can  not  but  sympathize  with  the  efforts  which  are  being  made 
by  the  people  of  Central  America  to  regenerate  that  portion  of  the  continent 
which  covers  the  passage  across  the  Interoceanic  Isthmus. 

5.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party   will  expect  of  the  next  Adminis 
tration  that  every  proper  effort  be  made  to  insure  our  ascendancy  in  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  and  to  maintain  a  permanent  protection  to  the  great  outlets  through 
which  are  emptied  into  its  waters  the  products  raised  out  of  the  soil,  and  the 
commodities  created  by  the  industry  of  the  people  of  our  Western   valleys, 
and  of  the  Union  at  large. 

B.  F.  HALLETT,   Chairman. 

The  following  is  the  resolution  with  respect  to  overland  communication  with 
the  Pacific : 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  recognizes  the  great  importance,  in  a 
political  and  commercial  point  of  view,  of  a  safe  and  speedy  communication, 
by  military  and  postal  roads,  through  our  own  territory,  between  the  Atlantic 
and  Pacific  coasts  of  this  Union,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment  to  exercise  promptly  all  its  constitutional  power  for  the  attainment 
of  that  object. 

The  reading  of  the  resolutions  on  Know-Nothingism  and  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  question  was  followed  by  long  continued  and  enthusiastic 
applause  ;  in  which  every  delegation  joined  in  the  most  earnest  manner. 

Mr.  Hallett — I  am  instructed  by  the  'Committee  to  lay  these  resolu 
tions  before  the  Convention. 

W.  F.  Packer,  of  Pennsylvania — I  move  that  this  report  and  resolu 
tions  be  unanimously  adopted,  without  the  crossing  of  a  t  or  the  dot 
ting  of  an  *. 

[Great  applause.] 

Mr.  Conway,  of  Virginia — I  move  that  there  be  a  division  of  the 
question,  and  that  the  Convention  first  act  upon  the  resolutions  relat 
ing  to  the  domestic  policy  of  the  Nation.  There  were  delegates  here, 
especially  from  the  State  which  he  in  part  represented,  who  were  not 
prepared  to  adopt  all  these  resolutions ;  and  it  would  be  necessary  to 
divide  the  body  on  the  resolutions. 

B.  F.  Butler,  of  Massachusetts — As  this  report  is  the  unanimous 
result  of  the  labors  of  a  committee  composed  of  delegates  from  all  the 
States,  and  I  believe  embodies  principles  which  have  obtained  the  acqui 
escence  of  all  the  Democrats  in  every  part  of  our  Union,  I  shall  move 
the  previous  question. 


28  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


M.  R.  H.  Grarnett,  of  Virginia — I  rise  to  a  point  of  order.  A  divi 
sion  of  the  question  has  been  asked  by  my  colleague,  that  takes  prece 
dence. 

Mr.  Garnett :  Before  such  resolutions  are  forced  upon  us — before 
they  are  forced  upon  the  Democracy  of  the  Old  Dominion,  which  has 
steadily  opposed  the  doctrines  embraced  in  one  of  them — that  Old 
Dominion  which  has  never  faltered  in  defense  of  the  Democratic  faith 
— before  you  force  such  resolutions  upon  us,  I  ask  for  a  division  of  the 
question.  , 

Several  members  here  arose  and  called  to  order,  and  insisted  that 
there  could  be  no  debate  pending  a  call  for  the  previous  question. 

Mr.  Hibbard,  of  New  Hampshire,  said  that  the  call  for  a  division  of 
the  main  question,  under  the  rules  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  was 
in  order  after  the  previous  question  was  demanded  and  sustained,  and 
that  any  one  member  was  entitled  to  have  the  main  question  divided. 

The  President  said  that  the  previous  question  having  been  demanded, 
the  question  first  in  order  was,  shall  the  call  for  the  previous  qeestion 
be  sustained?  Then,  if  it  was  sustained,  the  question  should  be,  shall 
the  main  question  be  now  put?  And  if  that  was  decided  in  the  affirm 
ative,  the  gentleman  from  Virginia  was  entitled  to  have  the  main 
question  divided. 

Mr.  Phelps,  of  Missouri — Mr.  President,  I  desire  to  suggest  that  the 
right  of  a  delegation  from  a  State,  which  casts  thirty-five  votes  upon 
this  floor,  to  be  admitted,  has  not  been  settled,  and  I  would  ask  whether 
it  is  not  premature  to  adopt  the  resolutions  just  read  before  New  York 
is  heard.  I  think  it  is,  and  I  appeal  to  the  gentleman  from  Massachu 
setts  to  withdraw  the  call  for  the  previous  question,  that  I  may  move 
to  postpone  the  further  consideration  of  this  platform  until  the  New 
York  contested  case  is  decided. 

Mr.  Butler  refused  to  withdraw  the  call  for  the  previous  question. 

Mr.  A  very,  of  North  Carolina,  moved  that  the  Convention  should 
first  consider  the  resolutions  reported,  and  acted  upon  by  the  commit 
tee,  disregarding  the  extra  resolution  relative  to  a  public  road. 

The  Chair,  however,  would  not  entertain  the  motion,  but  the  previ 
ous  question  being  seconded,  was  put  to  the  body,  and  the  body  sus 
tained  it  by  a  large  majority.  The  order  was  that  the  Convention 
would  now  vote  upon  the  resolution  relating  to  the  domestic  policy  of 
the  country. 

The  call  was  for  a  vote  by  States. 

The  States  were  severally  called,  and  each  delegation  unanimously 
voted  aye  in  favor  of  the  resolutions.  The  Virginia  and  Mississippi 
delegations  alone  retired  to  consult,  but  returned  with  their  unanimous 
approval  of  the  resolutions. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  29 

When  the  North  Carolina  vqte  was  announced,  Mr.  Avery,  who  was 
the  organ  of  the  delegation,  remarked,  "  North  Carolina  gives  ten  votes 
for  the  resolutions,  and  will  give  ten  thousand  in  November."  [Ap 
plause.] 

When  Alabama  was  called,  Gov.  Chapman  cried  out,  "  Alabama 
votes  nine  votes  for  the  resolutions,  and  in  November,  as  usual,  s-he 
will  roll  up  her  fifteen  thousand  Democratic  majority."  [Cheers.} 

When  Kentucky  was  called,  the  Hon.  C.  A.  Wicklifte  announced 
that  Kentucky  gave  her  twelve  votes  for  the  resolutions,  and  all  she 
could  promise  would  be  a  majority  in  November  next.  [Loud  ap- 
plause.j 

The  President  then  announced  that  the  several  delegations  had  voted 
unanimously,  to-wit :  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  votes  in  favor  of  the 
resolutions  reported  by  the  committee  relating  to  the  domestic  policy 
of  the  country. 

Mr.  Wickliffe — Before  we  are  called  on  to  vote  on  the  remaining 
portions  of  the  resolutions,  I  think  we  should  have  time  from  now  till 
three  o'clock,  in  order  that  in  a  pure  air  and  a  clear  atmosphere  we 
may  look  at  them  with  some  degree  of  deliberation,  and  appreciate  the 
importance  of  our  action  in  either  accepting  or  rejecting  them.  1  ask 
for  my  State  a  recess  until  4  o'clock.  Rejected. 

Mr.  Phelps,  of  Mo.,  moved  to  adjourn  to  4  o'clock.  Lost,  ayes  7Sr 
nays  193. 

Mr.  Meade,  of  Virginia,  moved  a  recess  for  one  hour.  If  the  vote 
was  taken  on  the  other  resolutions  without  a  recess,  he  should  ask  leave 
for  the  Virginia  delegation  to  retire,  to  consult  for  at  least  that  time. 
Lost. 

Mr.  Ingersoll,  of  Connecticut,  demanded  that  under  the  division  of 
the  question,  the  remaining  resolutions  should  be  voted  on  separately. 

The  President  said  that  a  vote  upon  each  would  be  so  taken. 

Mr.  Meade,  of  Virginia,  asked  leave  for  the  delegation  to  retire  for 
the  purpose  of  consultation  as  to  their  action  upon  the  remaining  reso 
lutions. 

Leave  was  given  by  the  Convention  ;  and  the  same  was  requested  for 
the  like  purpose  by  the  delegations  of  Maryland  and  Missouri,  which 
was  acceded  to. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Barksdale,  of  Mississippi,  the  Convention  took  a 
recess  until  two  o'clock. 


30  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


AFTERNOON   SESSION— JUKE   4TH. 

The  Convention  met  at  two  o'clock,  and  was  called  to  order  by  the 
President. 

In  conformity  with  the  resolution  empowering  the  President  to 
appoint  a  Sergeant-at-arms  and  two  assistants,  the  following  appoint 
ments  were  made :  principal  Sergeant-at-arms,  George  W.  Palmer ; 
assistants,  John  R.  Johnson  and  Stephen  S.  Ayres. 

Mr.  Hibbard,  of  New  Hampshire,  moved  to  reconsider  the  vote  on 
the  first  part  of  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  and  that 
said  motion  be  laid  on  the  table.  The  motion  prevailed  unanimously. 

The  Chair  then  proceeded  to  take  the  vote  on  the  questions  relative 
to  foreign  policy.  The  first  resolution  was  as  follows  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  there  are  questions  connected  with  the  foreign  policy  of  this  country  which 
are  inferior  to  no  domestic  questions  whatever.  The  time  has  come  for  the  people  of  the  United 
States  to  declare  themselves  ki  favor  of  free  seas  and  progressive  free  trade  throughout  the 
world,  and,  by  solemn  manifestations,  to  place  their  moral  influence  at  the  side  of  their  successful 
example. 

The  vote  by  States  being  called,  the  following  States  voted  unani 
mously  in  the  affirmative : 

Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  5.  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  13,  New 
Jersey  7,  Pennsylvania  27,  Virginia  15,  North  Carolina  10,  South 
Carolina  8,  Louisiana  6,  Ohio  23,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Missouri  9, 
Arkansas  4,  Michigan  6,  Florida  3,  Texas  4,  Iowa  4,  Wisconsin  5, 
Kentucky  12. 

The  following  States  divided :  Connecticut — 1  aye,  5  nays ;  Tennes 
see — 11  ayes,  1  nay.  The  following  States  voted  in  the  negative: 
Rhode  Island  4,  Delaware  3,  Maryland  6,  Georgia  10. 

The  Chair  proclaimed  the  resolution  adopted,  by  230  ayes,  29  nays. 

The  second  resolution,  which  is  as  follows,  was  then  voted  on  by 
States  : 

2.  Resolved,  That  our  geographical  and  political  position  with  reference  to  other  States  of  this 
continent,  no  less  than  the  interest  of  our  commerce,  and  the  development  of  our  growing 
power,  requires  that  we  should  hold  as  sacred  the  principles  involved  in  the  Monroe  doctrine; 
their  bearing  and  import  admit  of  no  misconstruction;  they  should  be  applied  with  unbending 
rigidity. 

The  following  was  the  vote : 

AYES — Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts  12,  Con 
necticut,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina,  Georgia  6,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Ohio,  Kentucky, 
Tennessee  11,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Michigan,  Florida, 
Texas,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  California— 239. 

NAYS — Massachusetts  1,  Rhode  Island  4,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Geor 
gia  4,  Tennessee  1 — 21. 

C.  A.  Wickliffe,  of  the  Kentucky  delegation,  asked  leave  to  change 
their  vote  on  first  resolution  from  the  negative  to  the  affirmative. 
Granted.  [Applause.] 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  31 

The  Mississippi  delegation  asked  leave  to  change  their  vote  to  the 
affirmative,  which  was  granted.  [Applause.] 

The  vote  was  then  taken  on  the  following  resolution  : 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  great  highway  which  nature,  as  well  as  the  assent  of  the  States  most 
immediately  interested  in  its  maintenance,  has  marked  out  for  free  communication  between  the 
Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  Oceans,  constitutes  one  of  the  most  important  achievments  realized  by 
the  spirit  of  modern  times  and  the  unconquerable  energy  of  our  people.  That  result  should  be 
secured  by  a  timely  and  efficient  exertion  of  the  control  which  we  have  the  right  to  claim  over  it, 
and  no  power  on  earth  should  be  suffered  to  impede  or  clog  its  progress  by  any  interference  with 
the  relations  it  may  suit  our  policy  to  establish  between  our  government  and  the  governments  of 
the  States  within  whose  dominions  it  lies.  We  can,  under  no  circumstances  surrender  our  pre 
ponderance  in  the  adjustment  of  all  questions  arising  out  of  it. 

AYES — Maine  7,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts.  Connec 
ticut  4,  New  Jersey,  7,  Pennsylvania  27,  North  Carolina  10,  Georgia 
10,  Alabama  9,  Mississippi  7,  Tennessee  7,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11, 
Missouri  9,  Arkansas  4,  Michigan  6,  Florida  3,  Texas  4,  Iowa  4,  Wis 
consin  5,  California  4,  Louisiana  6,  Ohio  23 — 180. 

NAYS — Maine  1,  Khode  Island  4,  Connecticut  2,  Delaware  3,  Mary 
land  6,  Virginia  15,  South  Carolina  8,  Kentucky  12,  Tennessee  5—56. 

The  vote  by  States  was  then  taken  on  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  in  view  of  so  commanding  an  interest,  the  people  of  the  United  States  cannot 
but  sympathize  with  the  efforts  which  are  being  made  by  the  people  of  Central  America  to  regen 
erate  that  portion  of  the  continent  which  covers  the  passage  across  the  Interoceanic  Isthmus. 

AYES — Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  5,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  13, 
Connecticut  4,  New  Jersey  7,  Pennsylvania  27,  Virginia  15,  North 
Carolina  9,  Georgia  10,  Alabama  9,  Mississippi  7,  Louisiana  6,  Ohio 
23,  Tennessee  10,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Missouri  9,  Arkansas  4, 
Michigan  6,  Florida  3,  Texas  4,  Iowa  4,  Wisconsin  5,  California  4 — 
221, 

NAYS — Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  2,  Delaware  3,  Maryland  6, 
North  Carolina  1,  South  Carolina  8,  Kentucky  12,  Tennessee  2-  38. 

The  vote  was  then  taken  by  States,  on  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  will  expect  of  the  next  administration  that  every  proper 
effort  will  be  made  to  insure  our  ascendency  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  to  maintain  a  permanent 
protection  to  the  great  outlets  through  which  are  emptied  into  its  waters  the  products  raised  out 
of  the  soil,  and  the  commodities  created  by  the  industry  of  the  people  of  our  Western  valleys  and 
the  Union  at  large. 

AYES — Maine  7,  New  Hampshire  5,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  11, 
Connecticut  4,  New  Jersey  7,  Pennsylvania  27,  Virginia  15,  North 
Carolina  9,  Georgia  10,  Alabama  9,  Mississippi  7,  Louisiana  6,  Ohio 
23,  Kentucky  12,  Tennesssee  9,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Missouri  9, 
Arkansas  4,  Michigan  6,  Florida  3,  Texas  4,  Iowa  4,  Wisconsin  5, 
California  4—229. 

NAYS — Maine  1,  Massachusetts  2,  Rhode  Island  4,  Connecticut  2, 
Delaware  4,  Maryland  8,  North  Carolina  1,  South  Carolina  8,  Ten 
nessee  3 — 33. 

The  following  resolution  then  coming  up,  H.  Salisbury,  of  Dela 
ware,  moved  to  lay  it  on  the  table : 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  recognizes  the  great  importance,  in  a  political  and  com 
mercial  point  of  view,  of  a  safe  and  speedy  communication  by  military  and  postal  roads,  througn 
our  own  territory,  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of  this  Union,  and  that  it  is  the  duj_. 
of  the  Federal  Government  to  exercise  promptly  all  its  constitutional  powers  for  the  attainment,;, 
hat  object. 


32  PROCEEDINGS  OP  THE 


On  this  motion  the  vote  was  as  follows  : 

AYES— Maine  1;  New  Hampshire  4,  Massachusetts  17,  Ehode  Island 
4,  Connecticut  6,  New  Jersey  7,  Pennsylvania  27,  Delaware  3,  Vir 
ginia  15,  North  Carolina  10,  South  Carolina  8,  Georgia  6,  Alabama 
(under  protest  of  Judge  Clitherall)  9,  Mississippi  7,  Ohio  16,  Kentucky 
8,  Tennessee  3,  Florida  3 — 154  yeas. 

NAYS — Maine  7,  New  Hampshire  1,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  12, 
Maryland  6,  Georgia  4,  Louisiana  6,  Ohio  6,  Kentucky  4,  Tennessee  9, 
Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Missouri  9,  Arkansas  4,  Michigan  6,  Texas  4, 
Iowa  4,  Wisconsin  5,  California  4- — 120  nays. 

So  the  resolution  was  laid  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Colquitt,  of  Georgia,  moved  to  reconsider  the  vote  on  the  three 
last  resolutions  on  the  foreign  policy  of  the  Government,  and  G.  W. 
Peck,  of  Michigan,  moved  to  lay  on  the  table  the  motion  to  reconsider. 

On  this  motion  the  vote  was  as  follows  : 

YEAS. — Maine,  8 ;  New  Hampshire,  5  ;  Vermont,  5  ;  Massachu 
setts,  5  ;  New  Jersey,  7  ;  Pennsylvania,  27  ;  Maryland,  1 ;  North 
Carolina,  10  ;  Mississippi,  7 ;  Louisiana,  6  ;  Ohio,  23  ;  Tennessee, 
10;  Indiana,  13;  Illinois,  11  ;  Missouri,  9;  Arkansas,  4;  Michigan, 
6  ;  Florida,  3  ;  Texas,  4  ;  Iowa,  4  ;  Wisconsin,  5 ;  California,  4 
— -171. 

NAYS. — Massachusetts,  4;  Rhode  Island,  4;  Connecticut,  6  ;  Dela 
ware,  3  ;  Maryland,  7  ;  Virginia,  15 ;  South  Carolina,  8  ;  Georgia, 
9 ;  Alabama,  9  ;  Kentucky,  12  ;  Tennessee,  2 — 79. 

So  the  motion  to  reconsider  was  laid  on  the  table. 

Mr.  Meade,  of  Virginia,  offered  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  the  resolutions  in  regard  to  the  foreign  policy  of  this  Government  are  the  ex 
pressions  of  opinion  of  this  Convention,  and  are  not  to  be  exacted  as  articles  of  party  faith. 

G.  W.  Peck,  of  Michigan,  objected  that  this  resolution  could  not  be 
entertained,  but  must,  under  the  rules,  go  to  the  Committee  on  Reso 
lutions. 

Mr.  Meade — after  in  vain  asking  to  be  heard  on  the  resolution,  the 
Chair  deciding  that  the  question  could  not  be  debated,  but  must  go  to 
the  committee — moved  that  the  rules  be  suspended. 

A  vote  by  States  was  called  for  and  resulted  as  follows  : 

AYES. — Delaware,  3  ;  Maryland,  7  ;  Virginia,  15  ;  South  Carolina, 
8  ;  Kentucky,  12  ;  Tennessee,  9  ;  Missouri,  9 ;  Arkansas,  4 ;  Florida, 
3  ;  Texas,  4—74. 

NAYS. — Maine,  8  ;  New  Hampshire,  5  ;  Vermont,  5  ;  Massachu 
setts,  13 ;  Rhode  Island,  4  ;  Connecticut,  6  ;  New  Jersey,  7  ;  Penn 
sylvania,  27  ;  Maryland,  1 ;  North  Carolina,  10 ;  Georgia,  10  ; 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  33 

Alabama,  9  ;  Mississippi,  7  ;  Louisiana,  6  ;  Ohio,  23  ;  Tennessee,  3  : 
Indiana,  13  ;  Illinois,  11 ;  Michigan,  6  ;  Iowa,  4  ;  Wisconsin,  5  ; 
California,  4 — 171. 

So  the  motion  to  suspend  was  lost,  and  the  resolution  was  referred 
to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 

Mr.  Lowe,  of  Maryland,  sent  to  the  Chair  ihe  following  resolution, 
adopted  by  the  Maryland  Delegation,  which  he  had  been  instructed  to 
present,  as  explanatory  of  the  vote  of  that  State,  and  to  ask  that  the 
same  be  spread  on  the  records  of  the  Convention.  No  objection  being 
made,  it  was  so  ordered  : 

Resolved.  That  without  expressing  any  opinion  in  regard  to  the  principles  involved  in  the  last 
five  resolutions  of  the  proposed  platform,  we  deem  it  inexpedient  to  adopt  said  resolutions  as  part 
of  said  platform,  and  that  the  Chairman  of  this  Delegation  be  directed  to  cast  its  vote  in  the  nega 
tive  upon  said  resolution,  and  that  he  is  further  instructed  at  the  proper  time  to  request  the  reading 
of  this  resolution  to  the  Convention,  as  the  ground  upon  which  the  action  of  this  Delegation  is 
based. 

Judge  Borden,  of  Indiana,  moved  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  one  from  each  State,  to  be  selected  by  the  Delegates  thereof,  be 
appointed  to  report  the  names  of  persons  to  constitute  the  Democratic  National  Committee,  and 
the  mode  of  constituting  and  calling  the  next  Democratic  Convention.  Adopted. 

The  following  names  were  proposed  under  this  resolution  by  the 
various  delegations  : 

Maine,  Dudley  F.  Leavitt.  |      Mississippi,  0.  R.  Singleton. 


New  Hampshire,  J.  H.  Smith. 
Vermont,  John  Cain. 
Massachusetts,  Whiting  Griswold. 
Rhode  Island,  William  J.  Miller. 
Connecticut,  J.  P.  C.  Mather. 
New  York, 

New  Jersey,  John  W.  Mickle. 
Pennsylvania,  H.  D.  Foster. 
Delaware,  Henry  Ridgely. 
Maryland,  E.  Hamilton. 
Virginia,  Archibald  Graham. 
North  Carolina,  Burton  Craige. 
South  Carolina,  B.  H.  Wilson. 
Georgia,  John  H.  W.  Underwood. 
Alabama,  James  R.  Powell. 


Louisiana,  W.  W.  Pugh. 
Ohio,  Wm.  Lawrence. 
Kentucky,  T.  C.  McCreery. 
Tennessee,  T.  M.  Jones. 
Indiana,  G.  T.  Cookerly. 
Illinois,  W.  Cockle. 
Missouri,  William  Watson. 
Arkansas,  Jordan  N.  Embree. 
Michigan,  A.  E.  Campbell. 
Florida,  C.  E.  Dyke. 
Texas,  William  Fields. 
Iowa,  D.  H.  Solomons. 
Wisconsin,  M.  J.  Thomas. 
California,  D.  E.  Duel. 


A  delegate,  calling  attention  to  the  quantity  of  work  already  done, 
and  that  the  Committee  on  Credentials  not  being  ready  to  report  on 
the  New  York  controversy,  moved  that  the  Convention  adjourn. 

Mr.  Hibbard,  of  Texas,  was  enforcing  the  necessity  of  having  a  full 
vote  on  the  great  question  of  selecting  the  Presidency,  when  he  was 
interrupted  by  Mr.  Petit,  of  Indiana,  who  said  : 

Mr.  President — If  the  New  Yorkers  are  not  ready  to  come  into  the 
Convention  and  participate  with  us  in  its  labors,  there  are  other  States 
that  are  ready,  and  I  move  that  we  proceed  to  vote  for  the  candidate 
for  the  Presidency  and  Vice  Presidency. 
3 


34  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


Mr.  Hibbard  resumed — The  motion  is  to  proceed  to  vote  for  a  can 
didate  for  President  and  Vice  President.  In  the  Baltimore  Convention 
of  1852,  when  there  were  contested  votes  from  New  York  and  Georgia, 
the  Convention  decided  that  it  would  not  proceed  to  the  nomination 
of  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  until  the  contested  elections  were 
determined.  New  York  sends  two  sets  of  delegates,  whose  claims  are 
under  consideration  by  the  Committee  on  Credentials.  Whatever 
may  be  the  decision,  at  least  one  of  the  delegations  will  be  entitled  to  a 
seat,  and  perhaps  both.  New  York  has  a  right  to  be  heard  on  the 
momentous  question  of  the  nomination  of  a  candidate  for  the  Presi 
dency.  We  thought  that  there  was  sufficient  soundness  in  the  Democracy 
of  New  York  to  recognize  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Convention 
without  the  formality  of  their  voting.  But  on  the  nomination  of  the 
candidates  we  have  no  right  to  deny  them  a  hearing.  I  trust  that  the 
gentleman  will  withdraw  his  motion. 

Mr.  Petit  withdrew  his  motion. 

H.  Salisbury,  of  Delaware — Sir,  we  have  done  more  to-day  than 
has  generally  been  done  by  Democratic  Conventions.  We  have  gone, 
iu  the  adoption  of  our  resolutions,  beyond  the  precedents  of  previous 
Conventions.  It  would  be  wise  for  us  not  to  proceed  further  and  too 
rapidly,  but  to  act  calmly  and  discreetly  ;  and  he  was  therefore  in 
favor  of  adjourning  to  hear  the  Committee  on  Credentials. 

H.  B.  Wright,  of  Pennsylvania,  said  he  was  one  of  the  Committee 
on  Credentials,  and  the  committee  had  been  much  engaged  in  hearing 
the  parties  in  the  contested  case  of  New  York,  but  that  it  would  be 
prepared  to  make  a  report  on  to-morrow  at  two  o'clock. 

Mr.  Wilson,  of  Iowa,  was  in  favor  of  adjourning,  but  he  added  that 
he  was  against  waiting  any  longer  on  those  gentlemen  who  could  not 
settle  their  quarrels  at  home.  He  would  not  wait  a  day  longer  for 
them  than  to-morrow.  If  they  were  not  prepared  to  come  into  the 
Convention  and  arrange  their  difficulties  after  a  reasonable  time  he 
hoped  that  the  other  States  would  proceed  to  perform  their  duty,  and 
discharge  the  trust  for  which  they  were  sent  here. 

The  vote  to  adjourn  to  to-morrow  10  o'clock,  A.  M..  was  then  taken 
and  carried. 


FOURTH  DAY'S  PROCEEDINGS. 

MORNING  SESSION,  June  5th,  1856. 

At  10  o'clock  the  President  called  the  Convention  to  order. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Stevenson,  of  Kentucky,  after  some  preliminary  remarks, 
offered,  on  the  part  of  a  majority  of  the  Committee  on  Credentials,  the 
following  resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  entire  Democracy  of  New  York  to  unite;  and,  as  a  beginning 
of  that  union,  that  the  two  delegations  from  that  State  be  now  consolidated. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  35 

Resolved,  That  that  portion  of  the  Democracy  of  New  York  represented  by  the  delegation,  of 
which  the  Hon.  Horatio  Seymour  is  chairman,  are  entitled,  on  the  score  of  numbers,  to  forty-four 
delegates,  and  that  portion  of  the  Democracy  represented  by  the  delegations,  of  which  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Beardsley  is  Chairman,  is  entitled  on  the  score  of  numbers  to  twenty-six  delegates  in  the 
Convention,  and  that  said  delesation  be  admitted  in  proportion  aforesaid  to  seats  in  the  Conven 
tion,  the  persons  so  to  be  admitted  to  be  designated  by  the  respective  delegations,  and  that,  in 
counting  the  vote  of  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  Convention,  the  minority  shall  not  be  subject 
to  the  majority  without  their  consent. 

Resolved,  That  the  delegation  from  New  York,  when  admitted,  be  permitted  to  record  their 
votes  upon  the  resolutions  adopted  yesterday  by  the  Convention. 

Mr.  James  A.  Bayard,  on  behalf  of  the  minority  of  the  Committee 
on  Credentials,  offered  the  following  resolution  as  a  substitute  for  those 
presented  by  Mr,  Stevenson: 

Resolved,  That  the  two  delegations  from  New  York  be  authorized  to  select  each  thirty-five 
delegates,  and  that  the  seventy  delegates  thus  selected  be  admitted  as  the  delegation  of  the  two 
sections  of  the  New  York  Democracy  to  this  Convention,  and  that  they  be  allowed  one  hour  to 
report  their  selections.  The  two  delegations  to  vote  separately,  each  to  be  entitled  to  seventeen 
votes,  the  remaining  vote  of  this  State  to  be  cast  alternately  by  the  two  delegations,  the  Softs 
casting  it  the  first  time. 

Mr.  Butler,  of  Massachusetts,  moved  the  adoption  of  the  majority 
resolutions  and  called  for  the  previous  question. 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  Richardson,  said  motion  was  withdrawn. 

Mr.  McLane,  of  Maryland,  rose  to  a  point  of  order,  and  submitted 
that  the  gentleman  from  Massachusetts  had  not  the  power  to  demand 
the  previous  question  upon  the  majority  resolutions.  The  resolution 
of  Mr.  Bayard,  of  Delaware,  being  an  amendment,  the  vote  on  that 
must  he  first  taken. 

Mr.  Meade,  of  Virginia,  concurred  in  this  view  and  he  had  before 
risen  to  say  so.  As  the  resolution  of  Mr.  Bayard  would  be  first  voted 
upon,  he  would  move  the  previous  question. 

The  Convention  sustained  the  call  for  the  previous  question,  and  the 
President  decided  that  the  main  question  should  now  be  put,  first  upon 
the  minority  resolution  of  Mr.  Bayard,  of  Delaware. 

Pending  the  call  of  the  roll,  Mr.  Robinson,  of  Indiana,  moved  to  lay 
the  whole  subject  on  the  table. 

The  President  entertained  the  motion,  it  being  to  lay  the  whole  sub 
ject  upon  the  table. 

The  vote  being  taken  on  this  motion  by  States,  resulted  as  follows  : 

AYES. — Massachusetts  2;  New  Jersey,  4;  South  Carolina,  8;  Louisi 
ana,  6;  Ohio,  1;  Kentucky,  7;  Indiana,  13;  Arkansas,  3.  Total,  44. 

NAYS. — Maine,  8;  New  Hampshire,  5;  Vermont,  5;  Massachusetts, 
11;  Rhode  Island,  4;  Connecticut,  6;  New  Jersey,  3;  Pennsylvania,  27; 
Delaware,  3;  Maryland,  8;  Virginia,  15;  North  Carolina,  10;  Georgia, 
10;  Alabama,  9;  Mississippi,  7;  Ohio,  22;  Kentucky  12;  Tennessee,  5; 
Arkansas,  1;  Illinois,  11;  Missouri,  9;  Michigan,  6;  Florida,  3;  Texas, 
4;  Iowa,  4;  Wisconsin,  5;  California,  4.  Total,  217. 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


The  motion  being  lost,  the  question  came  upon  the  adoption  of  the 
minority  resolution  of  the  Committee  on  Credentials,  reported  by  Mr. 
Bayard,  and  the  vote  being  called  by  States,  resulted  as  follows  : 

AYES. — Maine,  6;  Massachusetts,  3;  Rhode  Island,  1;  Connecticut, 
6;  New  Jersey,  6;  Pennsylvania,  27;  Delaware,  3;  Maryland,  6;  Vir 
ginia,  15;  Georgia,  4;  Ohio,  10;  Kentucky,  6;  Tennessee,  10;  Indiana, 
13;  Missouri,  6;  Arkansas,  2;  Texas,  3;  Wisconsin,  5;  California,  4. 
Total,  137. 

NAYS. — Maine,  2;  New  Hampshire,  5;  Vermont,  5;  Massachusetts, 
10;  Rhode  Island,  3;  New  Jersey,  1;  Maryland,  2;  North -Carolina,  10; 
South  Carolina,  8;  Georgia,  6;  Alabama,  9;  Mississippi,  7;  Louisiana, 
6;  Ohio,  13;  Kentucky,  5;  Tennessee,  2;  Illinois,  11;  Missouri,  3;  Ar 
kansas,  2;  Michigan,  6;  Florida,  3;  Iowa,  4.  Total,  123. 

The  President  proclaimed  the  resolution  of  the  minority,  reported  by 
Mr.  Bayard,  as  adopted. 

Mr.  Preston,  of  Kentucky,  moved  to  reconsider  this  vote,  and  that 
the  motion  lay  on  the  table.  Adopted. 

The  question  was  then  put  on  the  adoption  of  the  resolution  as 
amended,  and  the  same  was  carried. 

Mr.  Preston  moved  to  reconsider  this  vote,  and  that  the  motion  lie 
on  the  table.  Adopted. 

Mr.  Preston  moved  that  a  committee  of  seven  of  the  Convention  be 
appointed  to  wait  upon  the  New  York  delegations,  and  inform  them  of 
the  decision  of  the  Convention. 

The  Chair  announced  the  following  as  the  committee  to  wait  on 
the  New  York  delegations  and  acquaint  them  with  the  decision  of  the 
Convention : 

Preston,  of  Kentucky ;  Butler,  of  Massachusetts  ;  Richardson,  of 
Illinois  ;  Gardner,  of  Georgia  ;  Meade,  of  Virginia ;  WicklifFe,  of  Ken 
tucky  ;  Pickens,  of  South  Carolina. 

George  McCook  of  Ohio,  moved  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  at  two  o'clock  P.  M.,  this  day,  this  Convention  will  proceed,  by  a  call  of 
the  States,  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  [Adopted. 

On  motion  the  Convention  then  took  a  recess  until  two  o'clock, 
P.M. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION,  JUNE  5,  1856. 

Mr.  Preston,  of  Kentucky,  reported  from  the  committee  to  acquaint 
the  New  York  Delegations  of  the  decision  of  the  Convention  in  the 
New  York  contest,  that  the  committee  had  performed  their  duty,  and 
that  the  contesting  delegations  had  declared  their  acquiescence  in  the 
decision,  and  would  be  prepared  to  comply  with  it. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


37 


The  following  is  the  list  of  Delegates,  from  New  York,  as  reported 
to  the  Convention  by  the  respective  delegations  from  that  State. 

The  delegation  of  which  Hon.  Horatio  Seymour  was  at  the  head 


was 


Horatio  Seymour,  of  Utica, 
Nicholas  Hill,  Jr.,  Albany, 
Wm.  H.  Ludlow, 
Samuel  E.  Johnson, 
Thomas  Byrns, 
George  H.  Purser, 
Stephen  H.  Feeks, 
John  Cochran,  New  York, 
Lorenzo  B.  Shepherd,  do., 
Daniel  F. 

J.  N.  Fowler,  New  York, 
John  C.  Holley, 
Thomas  R.  Westbrook, 
Dean  Richmond,  Buffalo, 
Charles  L.  Me  Arthur. 
John  V.  L.  Pruyn,  Albany, 
Lemuel  L.  Jenks, 
Timothy  Hoyle, 


William  C.  Grain, 
John  C.  Wright, 
Horatio  Bullard, 
John  Stryker, 
Horace  G.  Prindle, 
Sands  N.  Kenyon, 
DeWitt  C.  West, 
Dennis  McCarthy, 
Elmore  P.  Ross, 
William  C.  Dyer, 
John  J.  Taylor, 
William  C.  Rhodes, 
Simon  B.  Jewett, 
L.  P.  Weatherby, 
William  Vandervert, 
Israel  T.  Hatch, 
N.  Sackett. 


The  delegation  of  which  the  Hon.  Samuel  Beardsley  was  at  the 
head,  was 


Samuel  Beardsley,  Utica, 
George  W.  Clinton,  Buffalo, 
Legrand  Gr.  Capers, 
Henry  C.  Murphy, 
Joseph  Blackburn, 
Thomas  Wheeler, 
Robert  W.  Allen, 
Augustus  Schell,  New  York, 
Elijah  Ward, 

Daniel  B.  Taylor,  New  York, 
Robert  H.  Ludlow, 
Samuel  Fowler, 
William  F.  Russell, 
George  W.  Petton, 
David  L.  Seymour,  Troy, 
David  Hamilton, 
Orville  Clark,  Sandy  Hill, 
Putnam  B.  Fisk, 


|          Charles  Gray. 

Thomas  B.  Mitchell, 

Samuel  S.  Brown, 

John  Rice, 

Ausburn  Birdsall,  Binghampton, 

Delos  DeWolf, 

Lysander  H.  Brown, 

John  J.  Peck, 

Charles  W.  Pomeroy, 

Wm.  Clark, 

Erastus  Evans, 

John  A.  Vanderlip, 

Nicholas  E.  Pain, 

James  G.  Shepherd, 

Harvey  Goodrich, 

Henry  A.  Rogers,  Buffalo, 

Benjamin  Wai  worth. 


Mr.  Inge,  of  California,  moved  that  the  resolution  relative  to  the 
establishment  of  a  public  road  across  our  territory  be  reconsidered. 

Mr.  Thompson,  of  Mississippi,  insisted  that  the  motion  was  not  in 
order ;  that  by  the  decision  of  the  Convention  this  morning,  the  order 
of  the  hour  was  to  ballot  for  the  Presidency. 

The  President  so  decided. 

Mr.  Callehan,  of  Pennsylvania,  arose  to  a  privileged  question.  The 
New  York  delegation  had  been  admitted,  but  they  had  not  yet  signified 
their  acquiescence  in  the  platform,  and  they  ought  to  be  permitted  to 
do  so.  [Applause.  Yes,  yes.] 


38  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


Mr.  Meade,  of  Virginia,  then  moved  that  New  York  be  now  permit 
ted  to  vote  on  the  resolutions  constituting  the  platform,  which  motion 
was  unanimously  adopted. 

New  York  was  then  called  for  her  vote  on  said  resolutions,  and  by 
her  respective  Chairmen,  cast  her  entire  thirty-five  votes  in  the  affirma 
tive,  which  was  received  with  great  applause. 

Mr.  Inge,  of  California,  moved  for  a  suspension  of  the  rules,  with  a 
view  to  reconsider  the  vote  laying  upon  the  table,  the  resolution  in 
favor  of  an  overland  communication  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
coasts — and  he  called  for  a  vote  by  States. 

Ayes : — Maine,  1,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts,  11,  New  York  35, 
Maryland  8,  Georgia  1,  Louisiana  6,  Ohio  6,  Tennessee  5,  Illinois  11, 
Missouri  9,  Michigan  6,  Texas  4,  Iowa  4,  Wisconsin  5,  California  4 
—121. 

Noes  : — Maine  7,  New  Hampshire  5,  Massachusetts  2,  Rhode  Island 
4,  Connecticut  6,  New  Jersey  7,  Pennsylvania  27,  Delaware  3,  Vir 
ginia  15,  North  Carolina  10,  South  Carolina  8,  Georgia  9,  Alabama 
9,  Mississippi  7,  Ohio  17,  Kentucky  12,  Tennessee  7,  Iowa  13,  Ar 
kansas  4,  Florida  3 — 175. 

So  the  motion  to  suspend  the  rules  was  lost. 

Mr.  Ludlow,  of  New  York,  alluding  to  the  conciliatory  spirit  which 
had  influenced  the  Convention  in  its  action  on  the  question  so  happily 
adjusted,  asked  that  in  the  same  spirit  the  Convention  would  not  suffer 
some  seventy  good  Democrats,  who  had  been  sent  here  as  delegates, 
to  wander  through  the  streets  of  Cincinnati  without  permission  to 
enter  the  hall. 

The  President  decided  that  the  gentleman  was  out  of  order. 

The  Chair  then  announced  that  the  order  of  the  hour  was  the  vote 
on  the  nomination  for  Presidency. 

R.  Kidder  Meade,  of  Virginia — I  am  charged  by  my  delegation  with 
the  duty  of  presenting  to  this  Convention,  as  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency,  the  name  of  that  honest  and  eminent  statesman,  James 
Buchanan.  [Applause.] 

Harry  Hibbard,  of  New  Hampshire — In  the  name  of  the  Democracy 
of  New  Hampshire  I  present  the  name  of  Franklin  Pierce.  [Applause.] 

Mr.  Inge,  of  California — I  am  unanimously  instructed  by  the  dele 
gation  from  California  to  put  in  nomination  the  great  champion  of 
American  progress,  Lewis  Cass,  of  Michigan.  [Applause.] 

Mr.  Richardson — I  propose  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  of  Illinois,  for  the 
nomination  for  the  Presidency.  [Applause  ] 

The  Convention  then  proceeded  to  vote  for  a  candidate  for  Presi 
dent.  The  first  ballot  was  as  follows  : 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


39 


IST  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

There  being  no  choice  the  Chair  ordered  a  2d  ballot. 

2n  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

There  being  no  choice,  a  3d  ballot  was  ordered. 

STATES. 

W 

|| 

p 

rt 

O  PT* 

«S 
11 

?> 

Lewis  Cass. 

STATES. 

James 
j  Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

Stephen  A. 
Douglas. 

Lewis  Cass. 

Maine 

5 

4 

6 
17 

7 
27 
3 
6 
15 

6 
13| 

13 
6 
3 

3 
5 
5 
9 

4 

18 

2 

10 
8 
10 
9 

7 

44 
5 
12 

4 

3 

4 

4 
3 

11 

9 

4 
2 

1 
4 

Maine    

5 

4 

6 
18 
7 
27 
3 
G 
15 

6 
13 
5 

13 

6 

2 
3 

3 
5 
5 
9 
4 

17 

2 

10 
8 
10 
9 

7 

3i 
4 
12 

4 

3 
4 

4i 
3 

11 
9 

2 
2 

2 
4 

New  Hampshire,  .  . 

New  Hampshire,.. 

Massachusetts,  
Rhode  Island,  
Connecticut,  
New  York  

Massachusetts,  
Rhode  Island,  

Pennsylvania,  

Pennsylvania,  

Virginia,  
North  Carolina,... 
South  Carolina,... 

North  Carolina,... 
South  Carolina,..  . 
Georgia,  

Louisiana,  

Ohio 

\  .   PP  ' 

Ohio 

Illinois,  

Illinois  

Missouri,  

Michigan 

Florida 

Texas,  

California      

125i  122^1  33 

5 

139    119i    3H 

6 

3D  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

A  4th  ballot  was  then  had. 

4ra  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

A  5th  ballot  was  then  directed. 

STATES. 

James 
Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

03 

2§ 

II 
™  >• 

5 
5 

11 
9 

2 

I 

Q 

STATES. 

*  James 
Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

Stephen  A. 
Douglas. 

Lewis  Cass 

5 

4 

6 
17 

7 
27 
3 
6 
15 

6 
13J 

13 

6 

2 
5 

3 
5 
5 
9 

4 

18 

2 

10 
8 
10 
9 

7 

3 
3 
12 

4 

3 
4 

tt 

4 

Maine,  

5 

4 

6 
18 
7 
27 
3 
6 
15 

6 

m 

5 

13 

6 

2 
5 

3 
5 
5 
9 
4 

17 

2 

10 

8 
10 
9 

7 

3 
4 
12 

4 

3 

4 

5 
3 

11 
9 

2 

11 
4 

New  Hampshire,  .  . 
Vermont,  

New  Hampshire,  •  . 

Massachusetts,  
Rhode  Island,  
Connecticut,  
New  York,  

Massachusetts,  
Rhode  Island,  

New  York  

Pennsylvania,  
Delaware,  

Pennsylvania,  

Virginia,  

Virginia,  

North  Carolina,  .  .  . 
South  Carolina,... 

North  Carolina,  .  .  . 
South  Carolina,.... 

Alabama 

Mississippi,  

Louisiana  

Ohio    ••  

Ohio 

Kentucky,  

Indiana,  

Illinois,  

Illinois   

Missouri,  

Missouri,  

Arkansas,  

Florida 

Flor  ida 

j   Kas'  

i^wa' 

California,  

Wisconsin,  

rnia, 

|]39i!ll9 

32 

5* 

14H1119 

30 

5i 

40 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


5th  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

A  6th  ballot  was  then  had. 

GTH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

A  7th  ballot  was  then  taken. 

STATES. 

James 
Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

If 
fj 

Lewis  Cass. 

STATES. 

1  James 
Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

cc 
|f 

CJQ  & 

F3 
'?  >• 

Lewis  Cass. 

Maine,  

5 

5 

6 
17 
7 
27 
3 
6 
15 

6 

13* 
3* 

13 

6 

2 
5 

3 
5 
5 

8 
4 

18 

2 

10 

8 
10 
9 

7 

3 

it 

12 

4 

3 

4 

5 

4 

11 
9 

2 

1* 
4 

Maine  

New  Hampshire, 

5 

5 

6 

18 
7 
27 
3 
6 
15 

6 
13* 
5* 
12 
13 

6 

2 
5 

3 
5 
5 

8 
4 

17 

2 

10 

8 
10 
9 

7 

3 
5^ 

4 

3 

4 

5 
1 

11 
9 

2 

11 

4 

New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  
Massachusetts,  .  . 
Rhode  Island,... 
Connecticut,  
New  York,  
New  Jersey,  
Pennsylvania,... 
Delaware,  
Maryland,  
Virginia  
North  Carolina,.. 
South  Carolina,.. 

Massachusetts,  .  . 
Rhode  Island,... 
Connecticut,  .... 

New  York 

New  Jersey  
Pennsylvania,... 

Maryland,  
Virginia     

North  Carolina,. 
South  Carolina,  . 

Mississippi     .   *  . 

Mississippi,  

Ohio,  

Tennessee,  

Illinois 

Illinois 

Missouri 

Michigan,  
Florida,  

Michigan,  
Florida,  

Texas,  

Texas,  

Wisconsin,  

Wisconsin,  

Il40 

119*1  31 

5* 

155  107*  i  28 

5 

- 

TTH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

The  States  were  then  called  for  the  8th  ballot. 

STH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

After  the  result  of  the  8th  ballot  Mr.  Yulee  moved  an  adjournment,  which  was  lost,  and 
the  Oth'ballot  ordered. 

STATES. 

li 
|> 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

y  S" 

it 
?t 

Lewis  Cass. 

STATES. 

James 
Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

02 
If 

IS 
f  ^ 

Lewis  Cass 

Maine  

5 

6 

6 

17 
7 
27 
3 
6 
15 

3 

6 
13 
3* 

13 

6 

2 
5 

3 
5 
5 

7 
4 

18 

2 

10 

8 

9 

7 

4 

3 
4 

7 

4* 
8* 
12 

11 
9 
4 

2 

1* 
4 

Maine,  

6 

6 

6 
IS 
7 
27 
3 
| 
15 

s 
1 

]3 
tt 

13 

6 

2 
5 

L47i 

2 
5 
5 

7 
4 

17 

2 

10 

8 

9 

7 

4 

3 

4 

1 

t\ 
«i 

12 

11 
9 
4 

2 

1* 
4 

New  Hampshire,. 

New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  
Massachusetts,... 
Rhode  Island,... 
Connecticut,  
New  York,  
New  Jersey,  .... 
Pennsylvania,..  . 
Delaware,  

Massachusetts,  .  . 
Rhode  Island,... 
Connecticut  
New  York  

New  Jersey,  
Pennsylvania.... 

Maryland,  
Virginia   

Virginia 

North  Carolina,. 
South  Carolina,  . 

North  Carolina,.. 
South  Carolina,. 

\labama,  

Mississipp',  
Louisiana,  
Ohio,  

Ohio,  

Kentucky,  
Tennessee,  

Illinois,  
Missouri,  
Arkansas,  

Illinois  

Florida,  

Wisconsin,  
California,  

Wisconsin,  
California,  

143* 

89 

58 

5* 

87 

56 

N 

NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


41 


9rn  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

The  10th  ballot  was  then  taken. 

10TH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

The  llth  ballot  was  then  taken. 

STATES. 

James 
;  Buchanan. 

|| 
*  a' 

2 
5 
5 

7 
4 

18 

1 

10 

8 

9 

7 

4 

3 
4 

CO 
JQ    fD 

Lewis  Cass. 

STATES. 

James 
Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

0 

1     1 

Maine,  

6 

6 

6 
17 

7 
27 
3 
7 
15 

3 

6 
13 

4 

13 

6 

2 
5 

7 

3 

8 
12 

11 
9 
4 

o 

3 

4 

Maine,  

New  Hampshire 

6 

6 

6 

18 
7 
27 
3 
7 
15 

3 

6 
13 

13 

6 

2 
5 

2 
5 

7 
4 

17 

1 

10 

8 

9 

7 

31 

3 
4 

5 

7 
5 

n 

12 

11 
9 
4 

2 

11 

4 

New  Hampshire, 

Massachusetts,... 
Rhode  Island,... 
Connecticut,  
New  York,  

Massachusetts,... 
Rhode  Island   .  . 
Connecticut,.   .. 
New  York,  
New  Jersey,..  .. 
Pennsylvania   .  . 
Delaware,  

Pennsylvania,... 

Virginia,  
North  Carolina,  . 
South  Carolina,  . 
Georgia,  

North  Carolina,  . 
South  Carolina,  . 

Mississippi,  

Mississippi,    .   .. 

Ohio,  

Kentucky,  

Illinois,  

Illinois,  

Florida,  

Florida 

Texas 

Iowa  

Wisconsin,  
California,  

146      87  1  56 

7 

|  I47*i  80£i  GSii     5i 

HTH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

o> 

CO 

1 
I 

j 

12TH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

* 

STATES. 

W 

6 

6 

6 
17 

7 
27 
3 
8 
15 

3 

6 
13 

4* 

13 

6 

2 
5 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

If 

n 

5 

7 

11 
9 
4 

2 

Lewis  Cass. 

STATES. 

James 
Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

co 
II 

s£. 

5 

7 

6 
7* 
12 

11 
9 
4 

2 

Lewie  Cass. 

ifier  the  12th  ballot  Mr.  Burnett,  of  Alabama,  moved  an  adjournment  ;  but  objection 
ng  made,  it  was  withdrawn  and  the  13th  ballot  called  for. 

Maine,  

2 
5 

7 
4 

18 

10 

8 

9 

7 

3 

3 
4 

1* 

4 

Maine 

6 

6 

6 
18 

7 
27 
3 
8 
15 

3 

6 

12i 
4* 

13 

6 

2 
5 

o 
5 

7 
4 

17 

10 

8 

9 

7 

3 

3 

4 

It 

4 

New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  
Massachusetts,... 
Rhode  Island,... 
Connecticut,...  . 
New  York    • 

New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  

Massachusetts,.. 
Rhode  Island,... 
Connecticut,  
New  York,  
New  Jersey,  
Pennsylvania,..  . 

New  Jersey,  
Pennsylvania,..  . 
Delaware,  
Maryland,  
Virginia,  
North  Carolina,  . 
South  Carolina,  . 

Maryland,  
Virginia 

North  Carolina,  . 
South  Carolina,  . 

Mississippi,  

Mississippi,  
Louisiana,  
Ohio 

Ohio,  

Kentucky,  
Tennessee,  

T    r    b      ' 

Illinois,  

Illinois       

Missouri,  

At        U' 

Michigan,  
Florida,  

Michigan,  
Florida 

Wisconsin,  ...... 
California,  

Wisconsin,  
California,  

147*1  80 

63 

51 

148 

79 

63£ 

5* 

42 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


13xH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 


STATES. 


Maine, 

New  Hampshire, 

Vermont, 

Massachusetts, 
Rhode  Island, 
Connecticut,.. 
New  York,... 
New  Jersey,  . 
Pennsylvania, 

Delaware, 

Maryland, 

Virginia, 

North  Carolina, . 
South  Carolina, . 

Georgia, 

Alabama, 

Mississippi, 

Louisiana, 

Ohio,. 

Kentucky, 

Tennessee, 

Indiana, 

Illinois, 

Missouri, 

Arkansas, 

Michigan, 

Florida, 

Texas, 

Iowa, 

Wisconsin,, 

California, 


13 


ill 


18 


150      77*1  63 


AFTER  THE  13TH  BALLOT,  Mr.  McMullen,of  Virginia,  moved  an  adjourn 
ment.  The  vote  by  States  being  called  for,  resulted  as  follows  : 

YEAS.— New  Hampshire,  5  ;  Vermont,  5  ;  Rhode  Island,  4  ;  New  York, 
17  ;  North  Carolina,  5  ;  South  Carolina,  8  ;  Georgia,  10  ;  Alabama,  9  ; 
Mississippi,?;  Ohio,  8  ;  Kentucky,  5;  Tennessee,  12  ;  Illinois,  11  ; 
Missouri,  9  ;  Arkansas,  4  ;  Florida,  3  ;  Texas,  4  ;  Iowa,  2  ;  California, 
4— Total,  132. 

NAYS.— Maine,  8  ;  Massachusetts,  13  ;  Connecticut,  6  ;  New  York,  18; 
New  Jersey,  7  ;  Pennsylvania.  27  ;  Delaware,  3  ;  Maryland,  8  ;  Virginia, 
15  ;  North  Carolina,  5  ;  Louisiana,  6  ;  Ohio,  15  ;  Kentucky,  7  ;  Indiana, 
13;  Michigan,  6;  Iowa,  2  ;  Wisconsin,  5.  Total,  164.  So  the  motion 
was  lost. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


43 


14TH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 


STATES. 


Maine, 

Sew  Hampshire, 

Vermont, 

Massachusetts,... 
Rhode  Island,... 

onnecticut, 
New  York,... 
New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania 
Delaware, . . . 
Maryland, . . 

Virginia, 

North  Carolina,. 
South  Carolina, . 

Georgia, 

Alabama, 

Mississippi...... 

Louisiana, 

Ohio,. 

Kentucky, 

Tennessee, 

Indiana,., 

Illinois, 

Missouri, 

Arkansas, 

Michigan, 

Florida, 

Texas, 

Iowa, 

Wisconsin, 

California, 


13 


18 


1S2*|  75 


AFTER  THE  14TH  BALLOT,  Mr.  Flournoy,  of  Arkansas,  moved  that  the 
Convention  do  now  adjourn  until  to-morrow  morning  at  9  o'clock.  A  call 
for  votes  by  States  being  made,  resulted  as  follows  : 

YEAS. — Maine,  1  ;  New  Hampshire,  5  ;  Vermont,  5  ;  Massachusetts, 
8  ;  Rhode  Island,  4  ;  New  York,  17  ;  New  Jersey,  7  ;  Pennsylvania,  27  ; 
Delaware  5;  Virginia,  15;  North  Carolina,  10;  South  Carolina,  8; 
Georgia,  9  ;  Alabama,  9  ;  Mississippi,  7  ;  Louisiana,  6  ;  Ohio,  15  ;  Ken 
tucky,  12  ;  Tennessee,  6  ;  Indiana,  13;  Illinois,  11  ;  Missouri,  9  ;  Ar 
kansas,  4  ;  Florida,  3  ,  Texas,  4  ;  Iowa,  4  ;  Wisconsin,  5  ;  California,  4 
Total,  231. 

NAYS. — Maine,  7  ;  Massachusetts,  5  ;  Connecticut,  6  ;  New  York,  18  ; 
Maryland, 8;  Georgia,!;  Ohio,8;  Tennessee, 6;  Michigan, 6.     Total,  65. 
The  Convention  adjourned  until  to-morrow  morning  at  9  o'clock. 


44  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


FIFTH  DAY'S  PKOCEEDINGS. 

MORNING  SESSION,  JUNE  6,  1856. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  precisely  at  nine  o'clock.  The 
President  said  that  they  would  now  proceed  to  the  fifteenth  ballot. 

Mr.  Hibbard,  of  New  Hampshire,  arose  and  said  : 

Mr.  President — New  Hampshire  has  thus  far  given  her  votes  for 
Franklin  Pierce,  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  entire  body  of  the 
democracy  of  our  State.  In  common  with  other  friends,  tried  and  true, 
she  has  supported  him  steadfastly  and  earnestly.  But,  sir,  strong  as  is 
her  preference  for  her  own  distinguished  son,  abiding  as  is  her  confidence 
in  his  patriotism  and  statesmanship,  warm  as  is  her  attachment  to  him 
personally,  she  is  willing  to  defer  even  these  considerations  for  what 
may  seem  the  more  practicable  method  of  advancing  cherished  princi 
ples.  She  lays  them  all  as  an  offering  upon  the  altar  of  our  common 
cause.  In  so  doing,  she  acts  in  accordance,  not  only  with  the  dictates 
of  her  political  duty,  but  with  his  own  expressed  desire.  The  unani 
mous  adoption  by  this  Convention  of  our  noble  platform,  is  the  most 
comprehensive  and  emphatic  sanction  of  the  administration  of  Presi 
dent  Pierce.  Beyond  this,  there  needs  no  tongue  to  speak  his  eulogy. 
I  therefore  withdraw  his  name  from  the  present  contest.  And,  sir,  by 
the  unanimous  instruction  of  our  delegation,  I  cast  the  five  votes  of 
our  State  for  the  man  we  regard  as  the  next  best  exponent  of  the  prin 
ciples  and  measures  so  nobly  illustrated  by  the  administration  of 
Franklin  Pierce — the  bold,  efficient  and  ever  faithful  statesman  of 
Illinois,  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  [Great  Applause.] 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


45 


15-TH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

There  being  no  choice,  the  16th  ballot  was  called  for. 

16TH  BALLOT  FOR  PRESIDENT. 

No  choice  being  made,  the  17th  ballot  was  had. 

STATES. 

James 
j  Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

Stephen  A. 
Douglas. 

S' 

Q 

STATES. 

James 
Buchanan. 

Franklin 
Pierce. 

Stephen  A. 
j  Douglas. 

Lewis  Cass. 

7 

10 
4 
6 
17 

27 
3 
8 
15 

3 

6 

m 

12 
13 

6 

2 
5 

1 

at 

5 
5 
3 

18 

10 

8 
7 
9 

7 

6t 

11 
9 
4 

3 

4 

2 

i 

4 

8 

10 
4 
6 

18 
7 
27 
3 
8 
15 

3 

6 
15 

12 
13 

6 

2 
5 

5 
5 
3 

17 

10 

8 
7 
9 

7 

6 
12 

11 
9 
4 

3 

4 

2 

323 

2 
4 

New  Hampshire, 
Vermont,  
Massachusetts,... 
Rhode  Island,..  . 
Connecticut,  
New  York  

New  Hampshire,. 

Massachusetts,  . 
Rhode  Island,.. 
Connecticut,  — 
New  York,  
New  Jersey,..  .. 
Pennsylvania,.. 
Delaware,  
Maryland,  

New  Jersey,  .... 
Pennsylvania  
Delaware,  
Maryland,  

North  Carolina,  . 
South  Carolina,  . 

North  Carolina, 
South  Carolina, 

Alabama,  
Mississippi,  

Mississippi,  
Louisiana,  
Ohio    

Ohio,  

Kentucky,  
Tennessee,  

Tennessee,  

Illinois,  

Illinois    . 

Arkansas,  
Michigan,  
Florida,  

Florida  

Wisconsin,  
California,  

Wisconsin,  
California,  

168£ 

3*!ll8il     4i 

168 

6 

When  Mr.  Preston,  of  Kentucky,  said  ;  Mr.  President — As  one  of 
the  friends  of  Mr.  Douglas,  I  have  become  sufficiently  satisfied  by  the 
evidences  presented  here,  that  it  is  the  wish  of  this  Convention  that 
James  Buchanan  should  be  the  nominee  for  President  of  the  United 
States;!  believe  that  Judge  Douglas  himself,  and  the  friends  of  Judge 
Douglas,  and  when  I  say  this,  I  speak  with  some  degree  of  know 
ledge  on  the  subject — I  believe  that  the  friends  of  Mr.  Douglas  will  be 
among  the  first  to  come  forward,  and  in  a  spirit  of  liberality,  put  an 
end  to  the  useless  contest.  I  will  now  give  way  to  the  gentleman  from 
Illinois,  the  friend  of  Mr.  Douglas. 

During  Mr.  Preston's  remarks  there  were  loud  expressions  of  dissa 
tisfaction  and  cries  of  "No,  no  !"  "  Don't  withdraw  !"  "  Don't  with 
draw  !" 

Here  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Illinois,  arose,  and  waiving  his  hand, 
there  was  immediate  and  general  silence.  In  a  solemn  and  impressive 
manner  that  gentleman  proceeded  to  address  the  Convention  as  follows: 

Mr.  Richardson — Mr.  President  and  gentlemen  of  the  Convention  : 
Before  undertaking  to  advise  any  gentleman  on  this  floor  what  he  ought 
to  do,  I  consider  that  I  have  a  duty  which  I  owe  to  my  constituents, 
and  which,  since  it  is  now  imposed  on  me,  I  feel  it  is  due  to-  the  Demo 
cratic  party  and  friends  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  that  I  should  dis 
charge.  Whatever  may  be  the  opinion  of  the  gentleman  as  to  the 


4(3  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


contest,  I  am  satisfied  that  I  cannot  advance  his  interests  or  the  inte 
rests  of  the  common  cause,  or  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party, 
by  continuing  him  in  this  contest.  I  will,  therefore,  state  that  I  have 
a  dispatch  from  Judge  Douglas,  which  I  desire,  may  be  permitted  to 
be  read,  and  I  shall  then  withdraw  his  name  from  before  the  Conven 
tion.  I  desire,  gentlemen,  after  that,  to  decide  on  what  course  they 
may  deem  it  proper  to  pursue.  [Tremendous  applause — profound 
sensation.] 

The  dispatch  was  sent  to  the  Chair  to  be  read,  and  is  as  follows  : 


LETTER  OF  S.  A.  DOUGLAS  TO  W.  A.  RICHARDSON,  OF  ILLINOIS. 

WASHINGTON,  June  4,  1856. 

Dear  Sir :  From  the  telegraphic  reports  in  the  newspapers,  I  fear  that  an 
embittered  state  of  feeling  is  being  engendered  in  the  Convention,  which 
may  endanger  the  harmony  ond  success  of  our  party.  I  wish  you  and  all  my 
friends  to  bear  in  mind  that  I  have  a  thousand  fold  more  anxiety  for  the  tri 
umph  of  our  principles  than  for  my  own  personal  elevation. 

If  the  withdrawal  of  my  name  will  contribute  to  the  harmony  of  our  party 
or  the  success  of  our  cause,  I  hope  you  will  not  hesitate  to  take  the  step. 
Especially  it  is  my  desire  that  the  action  of  the  Convention  will  embody  and 
express  the  wishes,  feelings  and  principles  of  the  Democracy  of  the  Republic  ; 
and  hence,  if  Mr.  Pierce  or  Mr.  Buchanan,  or  any  other  statesman  who  is 
faithful  to  the  great  issues  involved  in  the  contest,  shall  receive  a  majority  of 
the  Convention,  I  earnestly  hope  that  all  my  friends  will  unite  in  insuring 
him  two  thirds,  and  then  in  making  his  nomination  unanimous.  Let  no  per 
sonal  considerations  disturb  the  harmony  or  endanger  the  triumph  of  our 
principles. 

S.  A.  DOUGLAS. 

To  Hon.  W.  A.  RICHARDSON,  Burnet  House,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


The  reading  of  this  dispatch  was  interrupted  by  frequent  and  tre 
mendous  applause.  It  was  some  time  before  order  could  be  re 
stored.  When  the  Convention  had  subsided  into  something  like  or 
der,  the  Prasident  announced  that  they  would  proceed  with  the  seven 
teenth  ballot. 

Mr.  Preston — I  move  that  James  Buchanan  be  nominated  as  the 
candidate  of  the  democratic  party,  for  President  of  the  United  States, 
by  acclamation. 

Voices — Go  on  with  the  call — go  on  with  the  call  ! 
The  roll  was  then  called  for  the  seventeenth  ballot : 
Maine  cast  her  eight  votes  for  James  Buchanan. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  47 


When  New  Hampshire,  was  called,  Mr.  Hibbard  said: — Mr.  Presi 
dent:  New  Hampshire  has  steadily  supported  the  favorite  of  her  peo 
ple,  until  it  was  apparent  that  he  was  not  the  choice  of  the  convention. 
She  then  withdrew  his  name  and  went  heartily  for  the  champion  of 
the  North  West.  The  ballottings  have  shown  a  like  disposition  with 
regard  to  him.  His  name,  too,  is  now  withdrawn.  It  is  apparent 
that  Mr.  Buchanan  is  the  candidate  of  the  Convention.  The  will  of 
the  majority  becomes  now  the  choice  of  all.  New  Hampshire,  sir, 
bows  most  respectfully  to  that  decision.  She  will  support  the  great 
statesman  of  Pennsylvania  with  the  same  fidelity  and  determination  she 
has  devoted  to  the  cause  of  her  own  cherished  son.  She  throws 
her  five  votes  for  James  Buchanan,  and  she  will  roll  down  for  him  her 
majority  of  thousands  in  November  next,  like  an  avalanche  from  her 
granite  hills  !  [Great  applause.] 

Vermont  being  called,  Mr.  Smalley  rose  and  said  : — Vermont  cast 
her  unanimous  vote  for  nine  successive  ballots  for  Franklin  Pierce, 
because  they  regard  his  Administration,  both  in  its  domestic  and 
foreign  policy,  as  entitled  to  the  entire  confidence  and  approbation  of 
every  true  Democrat.  He  has,  in  a  perilous  crisis,  maintained  firmly  our 
honor  abroad,  fearlessly  confronted  all  the  intestine  factions  that  have 
for  the  last  three  years  distracted  our  Republic,  and  nohly  sustained  the 
constitutional  rights  of  every  part  of  our  common  country.  He  is  our 
neighbor,  and  we  know  him  to  be  a  man,  a  patriot,  and  a  statesman 
without  reproach.  But  we  became  convinced  that  he  was-  not  the 
choice  of  this  Convention,  and  therefore  Vermont  gave  her  five  votes 
for  a  favorite  son,  who  was  born  and  educated  amid  her  Green  Moun 
tains — the  bold,  the  eloquent,  and  the  successful  champion  in  the  United 
States  Senate  of  the  great  principle  of  Popular  Sovereignty — Stephen 
A.  Douglas.  But  his  name  has  been,  for  the  purpose  of  conciliation, 
harmony  and  unity  of  action,  at  his  request,  withdrawn  from  the  Con 
vention.  Vermont  now  comes  cordially  and  earnestly  to  the  support 
of  the  ripe,  able  and  accomplished  statesman  of  Pennsylvania.  And 
though  her  Democracy  can  promise  but  little,  will  yield  to  none  in  the 
fidelity  and  zeal  with  which  they  will  battle  for  his  election.  I  am 
unanimously  instructed  to  cast  the  five  votes  of  Vermont  for  James 
Buchanan.  [Loud  cheers.] 

Massachusetts  was  next  called,  when  Mr.  Butler  answered  as  follows  : 
Massachusetts  has  heretofore  shown  that  she  reposes  faith  and  confi 
dence  in  the  distinguished  statesman  of  her  own  section  of  the  country; 
yet  she  has  no  factious  opposition  to  make  to  the  wishes  of  the  great 
Democratic  party,  as  indicated  in  this  convention.  And  though,  sir, 
she  cannot  promise  much,  yet,  when  the  nomination  is  made,  she  will 
say,  in  the  language  of  one  of  her  gallant  sons  at  Lundy's  Lane,  when 
ordered  to  take  a  British  battery — "We  will  try."  I  am  instructed  to 
cast  the  thirteen  votes  of  Massachusetts  for  James  Buchanan.  [Ap 
plause.] 

When  the  vote  of  Rhode  Island  was  called  for,  Mr.  Lawrence  said  : 
Mr.  President :  Rhode  Island,  during  twelve  ballots,  manifested  her 


48  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


approval  of  the  administration  of  our  distinguished  President,  whose 
nomination — which  she  ratified  by  her  electoral  vote — her  delegates 
four  years  ago  were  among  the  first  to  sustain.  She  would  have  con 
tinued  to  cast  the  same  vote  had  she  not  been  convinced  that  General 
Pierce  could  not  unite  the  requisite  support  in  this  Convention.  She 
therefore,  last  evening  transferred  her  votes  to  the  eminent  citizen  of 
Pennsylvania,  who,  I  am  free  to  declare,  is,  under  existing  circum 
stances,  the  only  one  of  the  candidates  that  have  been  before  us  that  can 
redeem  our  State,  and  it  is  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  that  the  dele 
gation  of  Rhode  Island  congratulate  their  fellow  citizens  that  the  nomi 
nation  of  James  Buchanan  is  now  unanimously  responded  to. 

Connecticut  then  cast  her  six  votes  for  James  Buchanan. 

New  York  was  next  called,  whereupon  Mr.  Horatio  Seymour  rose 
and  said  :  The  State  of  New  York,  in  many  respects  divided,  has  at 
last  become  united  on  one  point,  the  moral  necessity  of  confining  the 
nomination  within  the  circle  of  the  three  distinguished  gentlemen 
whose  names  were  first  presented  to  the  people  as  candidates  for  the 
Presidency,  Speaking,  in  this  convention,  for  one  section  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party  of  the  State  of  New  York,  I  have  felt  it  to  be  my  duty — 
L  state  that  we  have  felt  it  our  duty  to  cast  our  votes  for  Franklin 
Pierce.  So  long  as  his  name  continued  before  the  convention,  we 
unfalteringly  adhered  to  him.  When  his  nomination  became  impos 
sible,  we  felt  it  our  duty  to  give  our  support  to  the  nomination  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  of  Illinois.  His  name  is  now  formally  with 
drawn  by  the  person  authorized  to  speak  for  him;  indeed,  he  has  spoken 
for  himself.  While  we  have  the  strongest  desire  to  continue  our  sup 
port  for  him,  we  feel  that  we  should  be  recreant  to  ourselves  and  to 
those  whom  we  represent,  if  the  State  of  New  York  should  go  beyond 
the  limits  of  the  three  names  originally  presented  to  the  people  of  the 
United  States  for  nomination.  At  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  in 
view  of  this  statement,  in  view  of  the  exigencies  of  the  case,  in  view  of 
the  position  in  which  we  are  now  placed,  I  ask  that  we  may  be  per 
mitted  to  retire  and  consult,  in  order  that  this  nomination  may  go  forth 
with  that  moral  force  and  influence  which  we  have  so  much  at  heart. 

Hereupon  that  part  of  the  delegation  from  New  York,  of  which  Mr. 
Ltidlow  was  chairman,  withdrew  for  consultation,  and  on  returning  to 
the  Convention, 

Mr.  Ludlow  of  New  York,  said — Mr.  President,  The  wing  of  the 
Democratic  party  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  by  the  dele 
gation  of  which  I  have  the  honor  to  be  chairman,  has  come  into  this 
Convention  under  great  disadvantages.  It  has,  Sir,  ever  been  a  strong 
distinctive  feature  of  our  Democracy  of  New  York,  to  stand  with 
reliable  truth  and  firmness  by  those  whom  we  have  reason  to  regard 
our  friends,  and  Sir,  in  this  view  having  had  no  candidate  of  our  own 
to  present,  and  without  any  pledges  to  others,  we  have  been  content 
and  pleased  to  support  the  nominees  of  our  friends.  We  have  done 
so,  honorably  and  honestly,  and  now  that  those  nominees  are  with 
drawn  from  the  further  consideration  of  this  Convention,  we  shall 
assume  no  factious  attitude,  and  I  take  pleasure  in  following  out  the 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  49 


sentiment  of  this  Convention,  as  now  indicated,  and  give  eighteen 
votes  from  New  York,  for  James  Buchanan. 

New  Jersey  then  casts  her  seven  votes  for  James  Buchanan. 

When  Pennsylvania  was  called, 

Hon.  John  L.  Dawson,  said — Mr.  President,  The  venerable  chair 
man  of  our  delegation,  Gov.  Porter,  not  much  accustomed  to  public 
speaking,  has  devolved  upon  me  the  duty  of  expressing  to  this  Con 
vention  our  high  appreciation  of  the  honor  conferred  upon  our  State 
in  the  selection  of  its  distinguished  citizen  as  the  nominee  of  the  Demo 
cratic  party.  [Great  applause.]  We  are  more  than  gratified  that 
the  time  has  arrived  in  the  deliberations  of  this  body,  when  the  sacrifice 
of  personal  preferences  and  predilections  becomes  a  virtue.  Ardent 
attachment  to  distinguished,  able  and  well-tried  leaders  is  a  noble 
characteristic  of  our  people,  and  is  only  to  be  waived  at  the  call  of 
patriotism  and  necessity.  [Cheers.]  In  this  case  that  harmony  and 
unanimity  which  is  essential  to  our  action,  and  the  surest  harbingers 
of  success,  has  generously  secured  this  surrender. 

The  chiefs  of  the  Democracy  present  many  honored  names,  either 
of  whom  would  worthily  have  supported  the  banner  upon  which  are 
inscribed  the  principles  to  which  we  own  allegiance — that  banner  now 
reared  to  be  borne  by  the  distinguished  son  of  our  own  State,  the  far 
beaming  effulgence  of  its  legend  will  penetrate  the  remotest  retreats  of 
the  land,  and  quickly  rally  around  it  an  invincible  host,  filled  with  the 
enthusiasm  inspired  by  a  great  cause  and  by  the  memory  of  former 
triumphs  and  glories,  [Great  cheering.] 

Mr.  Buchanan  is  a  man  upon  whom  all  can  unite,  and  in  doing  so 
there  is  no  expectation  that  there  will  be  any  surrender  of  the  confi 
dence  in  or  admiration  of  those  whom  we  pass  by. 

There  is  not  a  heart  in  this  Convention  that  does  not  glow  with  full 
and  grateful  recognition  of  the  eminent  services,  to  the  Democratic 
party,  of  Cass,  Hunter,  Douglas,  Bright,  Pierce  and  others  whose 
names  have  been  mentioned. 

The  first  is,  indeed,  a  mighty  name  which  was  long  since  voluntarily 
withdrawn  from  the  contest,  and  whose  brilliant  efforts  in  patriotic 
devotion  to  the  national  interest  will  forever  brighten  the  pages  of  our 
country's  history.  [Tremendous  cheers.]  In  Mr.  Hunter  we  recog 
nize  the  model  Senator,  the  distinguished  Statesman,  a  chivalric 
son  of  old  Virginia,  he  has  been  nurtured  in  the  school  of  her  sages 
who  laid  the  foundation  and  shaped  the  superstructure  of  the  con 
federacy.  [Applause.] 

The  clear-sighted  boldness,  the  skilful  battle  for  the  right  that  has 
marked  the  public  career  of  Douglas,  would  have  made  him  a  gallant 
leader  in  the  contest,  whom  we  should  all  have  delighted  to  follow ; 
[renewed  applause ;]  while  in  Bright  we  recognize  those  high  qualities 
that  mark  the  rising  statesmen  of  the  West,  and  see  in  him  the  true 
representative  of  her  gigantic  and  advancing  power.  [Great  applause.] 
4 


5Q  PROCEEDINGS  OP  THE 


The  Administration  of  General  Pierce  requires  no  eulogium  from 
me.  True  to  the  Constitution,  to  the  principles  and  policy  of  the 
Democratic  party,  we  say  in  a  spirit  of  justice:  "  Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servant/*  [Loud  cheers.] 

As  Pennsylvanians,  the  representatives  on  this  floor  of  a  State, 
which,  in  all  the  elements  of  greatness,  we  claim  in  a  spirit  of  patriotic 
attachment,  is  inferior  to  none  in  the  Union — one  of  the  "  Old 
Thirteen" — are  proud  that  the  towering  greatness  of  her  son  has 
secured  to  her  the  well-merited  and  distinguished  honor.  [Loud  and 
long  continued  applause.]  His  nomination  is  a  guaranty  to  the 
country  of  an  administration  of  the  Constitution  in  its  purity,  with  a 
just  regard  to  all  sections,  and  without  partial  and  modern  construc 
tions  of  its  spirit  and  provisions.  [Renewed  applause.]  His  election 
will  restore  confidence,  secure  peace  to  a  restless  people,  and  kindle 
anew  the  fires  of  patriotism  and  love  of  the  Union  in  bosoms  where 
those  sentiments  had  begun  to  smoulder.  He  will  receive  a  large  and 
overwhelming  majority  in  the  Keystone  State.  [Enthusiastic  cheers.] 
A  majority  demanded  by  her  numerical  power  consistent  with  the 
integrity  of  her  people  and  their  loyalty  to  the  Constitution  and  the 
Union  of  the  States.  Her  gallant  sons  will  rally  from  the  Delaware 
to  the  Ohio  ;  on  the  loftiest  summit  of  her  mountain  range  they  nvill 
fling  our  banner  to  the  breeze,  bearing  upon  it  the  inscription  of  the 
honored  name  of  "  James  Buchanan,  our  country  and  the  Constitu 
tion,"  and  victory  as  certain  as  that  which  attended  the  American 
arms  upon  the  immortal  battle  fields  of  our  national  history  will 
brighten  in  letters  of  living  light  upon  its  broad  and  ample  folds  as  it 
will  wave  so  gracefully  and  gallantly  in  triumph  over  the  land. 
[Hearty  and  long-continued  applause.] 

Delaware  casts  her  3  votes  for  James  Buchanan,  Maryland  8, 
and  Virginia  15. 

When  North  Carolina  was  called, 

Mr.  Avery,  Chairman  of  the  North  Carolina  delegation,  said — Mr. 
President,  The  delegation  of  North  Carolina  appeared  in  this  Conven 
tion,  with  the  view  to  battle  for  great  principles,  not  for  men.  The 
platform  adopted  by  the  Convention  commanded  their  most  hearty 
approval ;  it  is  broad  enough  to  hold  every  national  man  within  the 
limits  of  the  republic  ;  nothing  can  be  taken  from  it  without  impairing 
its  symmetry ;  nothing  can  be  added  to  it  without  marring  its  fair 
proportions.  Under  these  circumstances  we  have  been  prepared  to 
sustain  the  nominee  who  may  be  placed  upon  that  platform  with  no 
ordinary  zeal.  We  adhered  to  Franklin  Pierce  through  many  ballot- 
ings,  not  only  as  a  matter  of  choice  as  being  preferred  by  us  above  all 
others  at  this  time,  but  because  we  conceived  it  a  duty  imposed  upon 
the  South  to  support  him  in  view  of  the  bold  and  manly  stand  taken 
by  his  Administration  in  maintaining  the  laws  under  the  Constitution, 
and  upholding  the  rights  of  all  the  States  in  this  Union.  When  the  State 
of  New  Hampshire,  in  a  spirit  of  conciliation,  abandoned  her  favorite 
son,  we  felt  it  a  duty  to  pay  a  tribute  of  respect  and  gratitude  to  the 
distinguished  son  of  Illinois,  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  And,  General 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  51 

Pierce  out  of  the  way,  we  could  not  have  returned  to  our  constituents 
without  having  manifested  in  some  way  our  high  appreciation  of  the 
eminent  services  rendered  to  his  country  by  the  author  of  the  Kansas 
and  Nebraska  bill. 

We  have  sustained  by  our  votes  thus  far  these  two  eminent  men,  in 
no  factious  spirit ;  and  as  it  is  apparent  that  the  feeling  of  this  Con 
vention  is  in  favor  of  the  distinguished  son  of  the  Keystone  State,  we 
acquiesce  in  that  manifestation  of  preference  made  by  our  political 
brethren  here  assembled.  The  Hon.  James  Buchanan  was  the  first 
choice  of  North  Carolina  for  President  four  years  ago.  fie  has  under 
gone  no  change  in  political  sentiments  since  that  time,  and  our  confi 
dence  in  him  has  not  been  in  any  wise  impaired,  for  the  Democracy 
of  North  Carolina  loves  James  Buchanan  still.  Pending  his  stay  in 
Europe,  events  transpired  which  identified  Messrs.  Pierce  and  Douglas 
more  prominently  than  others  with  certain  leading  issues  before  the 
country,  and  according  to  the  views  we  entertained  respecting  their 
services  in  that  behalf,  we  could  not  consistently  abandon  them  while 
the  name  of  either  of  them  was  before  the  Convention ;  they  are  now 
bot  h  withdrawn,  and  we  come  a  united  delegation  with  a  hearty  good 
will  to  the  support  of  the  man  for  whom  North  Carolina  did  battle 
four  years  ago.  On  behalf  of  the  North  Carolina  delegation  I  cast  ten. 
votes  for  James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania.  [Applause. 

When  South  Carolina  was  called,  Governor  Manning  addressed  the 
President  as  follows  : — 

South  Carolina,  determined  as  she  is  to  support  the  candidates 
placed  upon  the  platform  of  principles  erected  by  this  Convention,  has 
given  that  support  in  the  first  instance  to  Franklin  Pierce  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  then  to  Stephen  A.  Douglas  of  Illinois,  and  she  would 
have  continued  to  yield  to  them  an  unfaltering  support  as  long  as  their 
names  were  presented  by  their  friends  to  the  Convention.  But  there 
is  something  else  that  South  Carolina  has  at  heart,  as  much  as  her 
attachment  to  persons  or  friends  in  this  contest — the  preservation  of 
the  Constitution  and  the  Union.  By  the  action  of  this  Convention, 
and  by  the  presence  here  of  South  Carolina,  the  bond  of  brotherhood 
among  all  the  States  of  this  Union  is  undivided.  South  Carolina,  Sir, 
casts  her  eight  votes  for  James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania.  [Loud 
applause.] 

The  State  of  Georgia  being  then  called,  Mr.  Gardner  said  :  The 
Georgia  delegation,  Sir,  came  here  pledged  to  the  support  of  the  gen 
tleman  for  whom  her  vote  was  first  cast,  and  for  whom  her  warm  and 
cordial  sympathies  were  enlisted.  Next  to  him,  the  delegation,  or  at 
least  a  large  portion  of  them,  thought  it  their  duty  to  come  to  the  sup 
port  of  Judge  Douglas,  of  Illinois.  They  considered  it  their  duty  to 
do  so,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  this  gentleman  had  manfully  battled  for 
great  constitutional  and  conservative  principles.  But  we  love  not 
Pierce  and  Douglas  alone  ;  we  have  a  warm  and  cordial  Southern  heart 
for  James  Buchanan.  From  the  broad  ocean's  shore — from  the  mid 
land  counties  of  the  State — from  its  mountains  and  its  valleys,  with  a 
loud  and  exulting  shout  of  triumph,  the  Democracy  will  come  forward 
in  support  of  James  Buchanan  ;  and  we  pledge  to  him  the  ten  electoral 
votes  of  Georgia.  [Applause.] 


52  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


The  State  of  Alabama  was  then  called  by  the  Secretary.  Mr.  Chap 
man,  of  Alabama,  said  :  I  hope,  Sir,  I  shall  be  indulged  by  the  Con 
vention  while  I  make  a  brief  statement  in  regard  to  the  position  of 
Alabama.  The  delegation  from  that  State  came  here  united  in  support 
of  Franklin  Pierce.  After  he  was  withdrawn,  they  voted  for  Stephen 
A.  Douglas.  These  votes,  Sir,  were  not  given  on  account  of  any  hos 
tility  to  the  distinguished  son  of  Pennsylvania,  but  because  those  gen 
tlemen  were,  in  our  opinion,  more  immediately  identified  with  the 
new  question  which  has  recently  arisen.  There  is  no  State  in  the 
Union  where  the  son  of  Pennsylvania  is  held  in  higher  esteem  and 
honor  than  the  one  from  which  I  come.  We  still  have  confidence  in 
him  ;  he  is  still  a  favorite  of  Alabama.  We  have  seen  the  unanimity 
with  which  the  delegation  from  Pennsylvania  have  come  to  the  support 
of  our  platform  of  principles,  and  this  alone  would  be  sufficient  to 
impart  confidence  in  the  candidate  they  have  presented  to  the  Conven 
tion.  WTe  remember,  too,  that  in  the  last  Convention,  James  Bu 
chanan  was  the  first  choice  of  Alabama ;  we  remember  that  he  was 
the  favorite  candidate  of  the  lamented  William  K.  King,  who  was 
associated  on  the  same  ticket  with  Franklin  Pierce.  And,  humble  as 
I  am,  I  claim  that  no  one  excels  me  in  confidence  and  esteem  for  the 
eminent  statesman  for  whom  Alabama  is  about  to  cast  her  vote.  Not 
reluctantly,  but  with  pleasure  she  gives  her  votes  to  James  Buchanan, 
of  Pennsylvania.  [Cheers.]  <, 

The  Secretary  then  called  Mississippi,  when  Mr.  Clayton,  for  the  Mis 
sissippi  delegation,  said  that  by  the  vote  of  Mississippi,  now  about  to 
be  given,  she  desired  to  give  one  more  evidence  of  her  devotion  to 
Democratic  principles.  She  had  thus  far  voted  first  for  Pierce,  next 
for  Douglas,  because  she  regarded  them  as  the  exponents  and  embodi 
ment  of  her  principles  ;  but  she  never  had  any  opposition  to  Mr.  Bu 
chanan.  Four  years  ago  she  had  voted  for  him  twenty-seven  times  in 
the  Baltimore  Convention.  She  now  again  casts  her  vote  for  him, 
with  a  pledge  that  her  people  will  ratify  it  by  six  thousand  majority. 

Mr.  Matthews,  of  Mississippi,  added  :  I  desire  to  state,  Sir,  that 
Mississippi,  in  casting  her  vote  first  for  Franklin  Pierce,  and  then  for 
Judge  Douglas,  wishes  not  to  be  understood  as  having  any  opposition 
to  Pennsylvania's  favorite  son.  She  voted  for  those  gentlemen  as 
representatives  of  that  great  principle  which  claims  to  lie  at  the  very 
foundation  of  American  liberty.  She  did  not  for  a  moment  suppose 
Mr.  Buchanan  to  be  opposed  to  that  principle  ;  but  she  considered  Mr. 
Pierce  and  Mr.  Douglas  to  be  more  intimately  identified  with  it.  Mis 
sissippi  will  support  the  nominee.  With  pride  and  pleasure  she  will 
take  up  the  banner  which  the  Democracy  have  entrusted  to  the  hands 
of  James  Buchanan,  and  carry  it  in  triumph  through  nearly  every 
county  in  the  State.  Mississippi  casts  her  seven  votes  for  James 
Buchanan.  [Loud  cheering.] 

President. — Let  Louisiana  be  called. 

Secretary. — Louisiana. 

Gov.  Marston. — Louisiana,  as  heretofore,  casts  her  six  votes  for 
James  Buchanan. 

Ohio  was  next  called,  and  she  answered  by  Mr.  Medary  :  It  is  with 
great  pleasure,  I  announce  to  you,  Mr.  President,  and  the  honorable 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.    "  53 

delegates  to  this  Convention,  that  Ohio  has  no  longer  to  cast  fractional 
votes.  With  the  platform  that  you  have  given  us  as  a  bond  of  union  for 
the  Democracy  of  this  great  country,  we  are  willing  to  fight  under  any 
leader  that  this  Convention  may  select  for  us.  I  assure  you,  Mr. 
President,  that  as  a  personal  friend  of  that  Little  Giant  of  the  north 
west,  for  whom  so  many  of  us  have  cast  our  votes,  or  for  whom  I  am 
willing  to  do  battle  even  single-handed,  that  no  one  will  yield  more 
pleasantly  to  the  decision  of  the  Convention  ;  and  I  can  speak  also  for 
the  whole  of  the  delegation  with  which  I  am  associated,  and  that  none 
will  more  readily  and  zealously  support  the  nominee  presented  to  us 
to-day.  I  pledge  you,  in  behalf  of  the  Democracy  of  Ohio,  that  as 
they  have  been  so  exact  in  casting  their  vote  here,  they  will  be  equally 
exact  in  casting  their  whole  vote  for  James  Buchanan,  and  though 
divided  here,  they  will  be  united  at  the  polls,  and  will  not  consider 
their  duty  discharged  till  they  have  deposited  their  whole  vote  in  the 
ballot  box;  and  they  will  carry  the  State  next  November  by  at  least 
twenty-five  thousand  majority.  They  will  unite  not  only  with  their 
neighbors  in  Pennsylvania,  but  will  stretch  out  their  hands  to  the 
extreme  South,  the  West  and  the  East,  to  meet  their  Democratic 
brethren,  and  to  assist  in  giving  the  death-blow  to  fanatacism  in  this 
country.  Ohio  casts  her  twenty-three  votes  for  James  Buchanan,  of 
Pennsylvania.  [Tremendous  cheers.] 

Kentucky,  when  her  name  was  called,  through  Gov.  Wickliffe,  said: 
Kentucky,  though  she  cannot  promise  her  thousands  in  November 
next,  yet  she  says  to  the  Democracy  of  the  Union  now,  that  when  the 
hour  of  battle  arrives,  she  will  give  a  majority  to  James  Buchanan, 
for  whom  she  now  casts  her  12  votes. 

The  Secretary  then  called  Tennessee,  and  Mr.  Bate,  of  Tennessee, 
said  :  We  came  here,  gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  representing  the 
spirit  of  the  Democracy  of  Jackson  and  of  Polk.  I  wish  to  state,  on 
behalf  of  the  Democracy  of  Tennessee,  that  they  voted  for  the  distin 
guished  individual  who  now  occupies  the  Executive  chair,  as  the  repre 
sentative  of  the  great  principle  which  now  presents  the  prominent  issue 
before  the  country,  and  afterward,  for  the  same  reason,  testified  their 
appreciation  of  the  eminent  gentleman  who  introduced  the  measure. 
Tennessee,  Sir,  has  not  cast  her  vote  for  a  Democratic  candidate  for 
the  Presidency,  since  she  voted  for  her  own  son,  the  illustrious  Jack 
son.  But  standing  here  now,  the  representative,  in  part,  of  the  De 
mocracy  of  Tennessee,  I  promise  that  she  will  give  for  the  nominee  of 
this  Convention,  a  Democratic  majority  of  ten  thousand  votes.  While 
here,  we  have  cast  the  vote  of  Tennessee  as  a  unit.  There  has  been 
some  division  of  opinion  in  the  delegation.  We  now,  however,  give 
a  heartfelt  and  entire  vote  to  James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania. 

Secretary. — Indiana. 

Judge  Borden. — Thirteen  votes  for  James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylva 
nia,  now,  and  the  same  in  November  next. 

Illinois  was  then  called  for,  and  Col.  Kichardson  rose,  in  behalf  of 
that  State,  and  responded  as  follows  :  I  am  instructed  by  the  delega 
tion  from  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  return  to  this  Convention  their  heart 
felt  acknowldgements  for  the  complimentary  vote  their  distinguished 
son  has  received;  and  above  and  beyond  all  to  return  their  thanks  that 


54  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


while  he  has  received  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  votes  as  a  candidate 
for  the  Presidency,  before  the  highest  tribunal  known  to  the  Democratic 
party;  the  adoption  of  the  great  principle  embodied  in  that  platform, 
which  received  the  assent  of  every  member  of  the  Committee  on  Reso 
lutions,  and  of  every  member  of  the  Convention,  has  endorsed  the 
political  opinions  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  While  he  has  been  com 
plimented  by  that  vote,  the  fact  that  the  principles  for  which  he  has 
battled  in  the  Senate  and  before  the  whole  country,  are  made  by  the 
Democratic  party  the  leading  principles  of  its  political  faith,  is  a  still 
higher  compliment,  which  might  excite  sentiments  of  pride  in  the 
bosom  of  any  man.  We  h%ve  come  here,  Sir,  animated  by  no  sectional 
spirit.  We  have  come  here  in  the  full  belief  that  the  spirit  of  the 
Democratic  party  resides  in  its  principles  more  than  in  its  men.  We 
have  come  to  say  to  the  Democratic  party  all  over  this  Union  that,  as 
in  times  past,  the  Democratic  banner  has  never  been  torn  in  Illinois, 
so  it  will  not  be  torn  in  November  next.  Illinois  joins  her  voice  to 
the  voices  of  the  delegates  of  the  other  States,  and  casts  her  eleven 
votes  for  James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania. 

Missouri  was  then  called,  and  Mr.  W.  A.  Harris  answered  :  That 
before  he  cast  the  vote  of  his  State,  he  was  instructed  to  offer  a  few 
words  of  explanation.  He  said  that  it  was  known  to  the  Convention 
that  although  the  vote  of  Missouri  had  been  cast  as  a  unit  for  Judge 
Douglas,  that  there  were  on  that  delegation  many  friends  of  President 
Pierce,  and  also  a  large  minority  who  preferred  Mr.  Buchanan  as  their 
first  choice.  Yet,  having  determined  among  themselves  not  to  depart 
from  the  list  of  names  before  the  Convention,  they  had  from  the  begin 
ning  decided  to  vote  for  Mr.  Pierce,  or  Mr.  Douglas  or  Mr.  Buchanan, 
till  the  one  or  the  other  was  nominated.  Mr.  Douglas  has  endeared 
himself  to  the  State  of  Missouri  and  to  the  whole  country,  in  manfully 
standing  up  for  all  the  great  principles  of  the  Constitution,  in  juftly 
interpreting  and  enforcing  all  its  guarantees  and  powers,  with  a  con 
stancy  and  fidelity  never  surpassed  by  any  statesman  of  the  country. 
But  it  was  by  his  authorship  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  and  his  argu 
ments  of  transcendent  ability  and  eloquence  in  its  support,  and  the 
moral  heroism  with  which  he  has  constantly  met  and  vanquished  the 
enemies  of  our  peace,  and  the  enemies  of  our  Union,  that  he  has  estab 
lished  himself  in  the  hearts  and  affections  of  the  people.  But,  in  a  spirit 
of  manly  self-denial,  he  has  directed  his  friends  to  withdraw  his  name 
from  the  list  of  those  now  before  the  Convention  for  nomination.  We 
surrender  him,  therefore,  to  be  warmed  and  cherished  in  the  hearts  of 
the  people,  to  still  further  add  to  his  glorious  record  of  sound  states 
manship,  until  his  countrymen  call  upon  him  for  the  performance  of 
still  greater  duties  in  higher  spheres. 

Thus,  then,  we  are  free  to  cast  our  united  vote  for  him  who,  from 
the  beginning  and  for  many  years,  was  the  honored  and  long- cherished 
first  choice  of  a  large  minority  of  us — a  statesman  of  the  greatest  tal 
ents  and  ability,  the  most  enlarged  experience,  and  the  most  pre-emi 
nent  qualifications  for  the  high  office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 
His  record  of  forty  years  is  but  the  record  of  his  wisdom  and  services  as 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  55 

a  statesman,  his  ability  and  sagacity  as  a  diplomatist,  and  his  devotion 
to  the  Union  and  the  rights  of  the  States.  It  is  a  record  without  a 
blemish  and  without  a  stain.  The  hearts  of  his  countrymen  are  warmed 
and  drawn  to  him  with  a  force  and  a  fervor  which  will  bear  him  with 
shouts  and  acclamations  into  the  Presidential  chair.  Being  one  of  his 
original,  ardent  and  long-devoted  friends,  my  delegation  has  kindly 
accorded  to  me  the  grateful  pleasure  of  casting  our  unanimous  vote  for 
that  noble  son  of  a  noble  State,  James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania. 

President — Call  Arkansas. 

Secretary — Arkansas  ! 

Mr.  Flournoy,  of  Arkansas — It  is  known,  sir,  to  this  Convention, 
that  the  delegation  from  Arkansas  came  here  instructed  to  cast  their 
vote  for  the  present  Executive,  Franklin  Pierce,  of  New  Hampshire. 
In  accordance  with  those  instructions,  they  faithfully  adhered  to  him 
until  they  saw  he  no  longer  had  a  chance  to  obtain  the  nomination  of 
the  Convention.  They  then  came  enthusiastically  and  harmoniously 
to  the  support  of  the  Little  Giant  of  Illinois.  They  have  voted  for  him 
since  that  time,  and  wherever  his  banner  was  seen  to  float,  there  were 
we  seen  to  battle.  But,  sir,  we  have  had  no  factious  opposition  to 
make  to  any  candidate.  Our  vote  was  merely  the  expression  of  a  per 
sonal  preference.  It  was  well  known  to  us,  and  well  appreciated,  that 
James  Buchanan  was  a  pure  patriot  and  a  great  man,  and  that  he  was 
in  every  way  worthy  of  our  support  and  our  vote.  While,  for  a  time, 
we  did  battle  against  him,  we  never  meant  our  vote  to  go  beyond  the 
circle  of  the  three  names  which  were  originally  presented  to  this  Con 
vention,  and  we  always  intended,  whenever  there-should  be  a  firm  and 
decided  majority  in  favor  of  Mr.  Buchanan,  to  show  that  we  were  ani 
mated  by  no  factious  spirit  of  opposition,  and  to  add  our  vote  to  those 
of  his  supporters.  We  are  now  as  enthusiastic  friends  of  Mr.  Buchanan 
as  can  be  found  on  this  floor.  There  is,  sir,  an  anecdote  in  history 
which  would  well  illustrate  the  position  of  Arkansas.  When  the 
Prince  and  Princess  of  Armenia  were  captured  by  Cyrus,  and  led  out 
to  receive  the  sentence  of  death  or  of  banishment  that  might  be  imposed 
on  them  by  the  conqueror,  and  the  Prince  was  asked  what  he  had  to 
say  why  sentence  should  not  be  pronounced,  he  answered  that  for  him 
self  he  had  nothing  to  say,  but  for  the  Princess  he  asked  that  she  might 
be  permitted  to  return  to  her  own  country — "as  for  me,"  he  said,  "do 
with  me  as  you  please."  After  she  had  returned,  when  all  were  ex 
pressing  admiration  for  Cyrus,  who  was  said  to  be  the  man  of  most 
gallant  bearing  in  the  world,  the  Princess  was  asked  what  she  thought 
of  him.  She  replied  that  she  had  never  seen  him.  When  surprise  was 
manifested  that  she,  who  had  been  in  his  presence,  had  not  seen  him, 
she  answered  that  she  had  no  eyes  except  for  the  man  who  had  been 
willing  to  sacrifice  his  own  life  to  save  hers.  Thus,  sir,  it  is  with 
Arkansas.  From  this  time  till  November,  she  will  have  no  eyes  except 
for  James  Buchanan.  I  pledge  myself  that,  in  November  next,  she 
will  give  for  him  in  proportion  to  her  vote  a  larger  majority  than  any 
other  State  in  the  Union.  And,  sir,  as  I  am  always  willing  to  back 
my  judgment,  I  will  bet  a  banner,  to  be  worked  by  the  fairest  hands  in 
Arkansas,  that  such  will  be  the  case. 


5(3  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


Many  members — We  take  the  bet. 

Mr.  Flournoy — Well,  sir,  the  banners  will  be  ready  to  send  to  the 
States  that  win  them,  and  I  predict  that  after  the  election,  we* shall  be 
overwhelmed  with  flags  from  every  State  in  the  Union.  As  I  have 
said,  we  have  hitherto  been  opposed  to  the  nominee  of  this  Convention, 
but  our  opposition  has  been  guided  by  dignity  and  moderation.  We 
expect — and  we  have  some  reason  to  expect  it — that  we  shall  meet  with 
noble  and  generous  conquerors,  and  that  some  little  favor  will  be  ex 
tended  to  us  when  we  express  a  choice  for  the  second  office  in  the  gift 
of  the  Convention.  I  now  cast  the  four  votes  of  Arkansas  for  James 
Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania. 

Secretary  :  Michigan  ! 

Mr. :  Michigan  still  casts  her  six  votes  for  James  Buchanan. 

Secretary  :  Florida  ! 

Response :  Florida  casts  her  three  votes  for  James  Buchanan. 

When  the  vote  of  Texas  was  called,  Mr.  Waelder,  of  Texas,  said  : 

Mr.  President :  In  1852,  when  the  final  vote  of  the  National  Con 
vention  was  taken,  Texas  had  no  speech  to  make,  neither  does  she  desire 
to  impose  a  long  speech  upon  the  Convention  of  1856  ;  but,  sir,  as 
chairman  of  the  Texas  delegation,  I  desire  to  say  these  few  words  : 

Heretofore  the  State  of  Texas  has  cast  her  four  votes,  first  for  Frank 
lin  Pierce,  next  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  thus  casting  her  vote,  she 
did  not  regard  James  Buchanan  as  less  pure,  as  less  true  to  our  com 
mon  Constitution;  but,  sir,  she  voted  for  Franklin  Pierce  and  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  because  they  had  been  more  actively  engaged  in  the  strug 
gle  which  has  of  late  convulsed  every  section  of  our  country. 

We  heartily  concur  in  the  nomination  of  James  Buchanan.  As  the 
Democracy  of  Pennsylvania  have  heretofore  done  battle  for  the  consti 
tutional  rights  of  the  South,  and  of  every  section  of  the  Union,  so  the 
Democracy  of  the  "  Lone  Star  "  do  battle  for  that  favorite,  noble  son 
of  the  "  Keystone  of  the  Arch."  Sir,  from  the  flowered  prairies  of  the 
South-west  we  extend  the  Democratic  hand  of  fellowship  to  the  Demo 
cracy  of  every  section  of  this  Union. 

As  to  the  vote  of  Texas  on  the  first  Monday  of  November  next,  I 
will  make  no  pledges.  But  that  our  majority  for  the  Democratic  cause 
will  out-rival  even  that  of  the  native  State  of  the  nominee,  in  propor 
tion  to  the  population  of  the  two  States,  I  have  no  doubt. 

I  now  cast  the  four  votes  of  the  State  of  Texas  (and  I  do  so  with 
great  pleasure)  for  James  Buchanan,  of  Pennsylvania. 

Iowa  next  cast  her  four  votes  for  James  Buchanan. 
Wisconsin  being  called  :  Five  votes  for  James  Buchanan. 

The  Secretary  then  called  for  California,  when  she  answered  as  fol 
lows  : 

Mr.  Inge,  of  California — Mr.  President :  California  came  here  for 
the  purpose  of  giving  a  frank,  loyal  and  united  support  to  the  eminent 
statesman  who  is  now  receiving  by  general  acclaim  from  this  Conven 
tion  the  enthusiastic  tribute  of  generous  hearts,  vindicating  him  as 
their  unanimous  choice  for  a  position  higher  in  moral  grandeur  than 
the  loftiest  of  the  imperial  thrones  of  this  Earth. 

The  expression  of  preference  for  Mr.  Buchanan,  on  the  part  of  our 
State  Convention,  left  the  delegation  in  no  doubt  as  to  the  course  pro- 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  57 

per  for  them  to  pursue.  But  the  State  Convention,  at  the  same  time 
that  it  expressed,  in  distinct  terms,  its  preference  for  Buchanan,  virtual 
ly  instructed  us  to  obtain  from  this  National  Convention  of  the  great 
Democratic  party,  a  full  endorsement  of  the  policy  of  a  safe  and  speedy 
communication,  through  our  own  territory,  between  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  coasts  of  this  confederacy.  It  must  be  conceded  that  no  achieve 
ment  of  American  arms  or  diplomacy,  has  redounded  more  to  the 
prosperity  and  glory  of  our  country  than  the  acquisition  of  California. 
[Here  Mr.  Inge  was  called  to  order  by  the  President,  who  remarked, 
that  he  was  traveling  beyond  the  record,  and  could  not  proceed  with 
out  the  unanimous  consent  of  the  Convention.  Cries  of  leave  !  leave  ! 
accompanied  with  applause,  from  all  parts  of  the  hall,  invited  the 
Speaker  to  proceed  with  his  remarks,  who  continued  as  follows  : 

I  am  deeply  grateful  to  this  Convention  for  the  consideration 
accorded  to  the  distant  State  of  California.  This  Convention  remem 
bers,  Mr.  President,  that  we  have  traveled  six  thousand  miles,  travers 
ing  two  oceans,  and  braving  the  fiery  sun  and  the  deadly  malaria  of  the 
tropics,  to  meet  our  democratic  brothers  here,  and  to  aid  in  this  glorious 
consummation.  [Applause.]  The  acquisition  of  California,  as  I  have 
said,  was  justly  regarded  as  the  most  brilliant  achievement  of  the 
American  arms.  To  accomplish  it  much  of  the  most  precious  blood 
of  the  republic  has  been  shed,  and  millions  of  treasure  have  been  lavishly 
expended.  From  the  year  1800,  from  the  days  of  Jefferson  to  the  treaty 
of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  the  acquisition  of  that  territory,  has  been  a 
paramount  object  of  American  diplomacy.  It  has  ever  been  the  dream 
of  our  statesmen,  and  an  object  dear  to  the  hearts  of  our  people  to 
make  America  an  ocean-bound  republic.  [Applause.] 

Well  sir,  that  country  has  been  acquired.  She  is  now  a  member  of 
our  ocean-bound  confederacy — the  brightest  star  in  the  glorious  con 
stellation  of  American  States.  [Applause.]  There  she  lies  before 
you  sir,  filled  with  an  industrious  and  energetic  population  ;  with  her 
vast  commercial  and  agricultural  resources  ;  and  with  a  climate,  whose 
geniality  attests,  more  than  any  other  creation  of  Omnipotent  power, 
the  beneficence  of  God  to  his  creatures.  Above  all  she  is  distinguisha 
ble  from  her  sisters,  by  the  golden  treasures,  sparkling  in  exhaustless 
profusion  upon  her  surface,  and  which  lie  embedded  in  her  snow 
capped  mountains.  But  with  all  these  facts  entitling  California  to  the 
favorable  consideration  of  the  federal  government,  after  having  been 
a  sovereign  member  of  the  confederacy  for  nearly  six  years,  after  con 
tributing  five  hundred  millions  of  dollars  to  the  wealth  of  the  country. 
What  has  been  done  to  facilitate  communication  between  the  Atlantic 
and  Pacific  coasts  of  the  confederacy  ?  California,  at  this  day,  remains 
isolated  in  position,  and  practically  out  of  the  Union,  by  the  failure  of 
Congress  to  establish  the  means  of  an  overland  communication.  On 
this  subject  the  masses  of  the  American  people  are  united.  State 
legislatures,  mass  meetings,  the  press  of  the  country  with  its  thousand 
tongues,  have  urged  upon  Congress  prompt  and  efficient  legislation, 
for  the  attainment  of  this  great  national  object.  Look,  for  a  moment, 
at  her  present  condition.  The  route  across  the  plains,  infested  with 
hostile  Indians,  is  no  longer  open  to  the  adventurous  march  of  the 
emigrant.  In  Nicaragua  civil  war  rages  ;  in  the  midsi  of  which  them 


58  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


is  no  protection  to  life  or  property.  The  emigrant  can  only  pass  there, 
between  files  of  contending  soldiers,  and  with  feet  stained  with  human 
blood.  At  Panama,  the  brutal  and  savage  negro,  animated  by  the 
hope  of  plunder,  have  recently  assailed  our  unarmed  countrymen, 
inflicting  death  indiscriminately.  Upon  both  the  Isthmus  routes,  dan 
ger,  disease  and  death  stand  in  frightful  array  along  the  pathway  of  the 
emigrant.  Sir,  we  ask  that  the  federal  government  may  exercise  all  its 
constitutional  power,  to  provide  a  safe  and  speedy  communication 
over  our  own  territory  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of  this 
Union.  A  resolution  embracing  that  policy,  has  been  laid  on  the 
table  by  a  vote  of  this  Convention,  the  delegation  from  Pennsylvania, 
voting  aye  upon  the  motion  to  lay  upon  the  table.  With  the  vote  of 
Pennsylvania,  thus  recorded,  against  a  policy  so  vital  to  the  interests 
of  our  State,  the  delegation  from  California  have  not  felt  it  consistent 
with  their  own  self  respect,  or  with  the  dignity  of  the  State  which  they 
have  the  honor  to  represent,  to  cast  their  votes  for  James  Buchanan. 
But  they  have  assurances  now,  that  Mr.  Buchanan  does  not  concur  in 
the  opposition  to  that  measure,  indicated  by  the  votes  of  the  Pennsylva 
nia  delegation,  and  we  therefore  cordially  acquiesce  in  his  nomination, 
and  pledge  our  State  to  his  support.  Sir,  we  do  more,  we  pledge  her 
to  an  overwhelming  majority.  When  the  shouts  of  victory  from  the 
East  boom  across  the  plains  and  ascend  the  lofty  summits  of  the  Cor 
dilleras,  they  will  be  met  by  responsive  shouts  of  triumph  from  the 
golden  valleys  of  the  Pacific  State.  [Tremendous  applause.] 

[Subsequently  the  proposition  for  an  overland  communication,  within  our 
own  territory  between  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  was  voted  upon,  directly,  by 
the  Convention,  the  Pennsylvania  delegation  voting  unanimously  against 
laying  the  same  on  the  table;  and,  on  its  final  passage  a  portion  of  said  dele 
gation  voted  for,  and  a  portion  against  its  adoption ;  said  proposition  having 
been  carried  ;  ayes  205,  noes  87.] 

The  President  of  the  Convention — Gentlemen :  The  result  of  the 
seventeenth  ballot  is  as  follows:  James  Buchanan  has  received  296 
votes,  which  being  the  whole  vote  cast,  and  the  entire  vote  of  the  Con 
vention,  I  announce  with  pleasure,  that  James  Buchanan,  of  Penn 
sylvania,  is  unanimously  nominated  as  the  Democratic  candidate  for 
President  of  the  United  States.  [Vociferous  cheering;  long  continued.] 

Here  shouts  were  raised  for  Col.  Black,  of  Pennsylvania ;  whereupon 
after  silence  was  restored,  the  Hon.  Samuel  Black  rose  and  spoke  as 
follows  : 

Col.  Samuel  W.  Black,  of  Pennsylvania — Mr.  President:  At  the 
unanimous  request  of  the  Pennsylvania  delegation,  I  rise  to  express 
their  thanks  for  the  high  honor  conferred  upon  our  State,  in  the  unani 
mous  vote  of  this  Convention,  now  recorded  for  James  Buchanan.  I 
do  not  design,  sir,  to  weary  the  well  tried  patience  of  this  assembly 
with  a  set  speech.  Your  labors  have  been  protracted  and  severe.  It 
is  desirable  and  just  that  we  should  bring  them  to  a  speedy  and  har 
monious  conclusion.  Pennsylvania,  in  whose  name  and  stead  I  am 
permitted  to  speak,  offers  from  her  heart,  to  every  other  state  of  the 
confederacy,  this  public  acknowledgment  of  deep  and  sincere  gratitude. 
Every  portion  of  our  country  is  here  represented.  I  do  not  say  sec- 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  59 

tion,  for,  sir,  with  the  Democracy  of  Pennsylvania  that  term  is 
abhorred,  and  the  spirit  of  sectionalism  is  a  by-word  and  reproach.  We 
recognize,  and  will  forever  maintain  and  defend  every  several  right  of 
every  sovereign  State  of  the  American  Union.  And  we  will  vindicate, 
with  the  same  spirit  that  leads  us  to  assert  the  sovereign  rights  of  our 
own  State,  the  rights  of  the  people  of  every  territory  to  settle  for  them 
selves  their  own  form  of  Government — to  choose  their  own  Democratic 
institutions  and  to  manage  them  according  to  the  council  and  pleasure 
of  their  own  will — they,  like  as  we  do,  submitting  in  all  things  to  the 
guidance  and  control  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  We 
believe  that  sentiments  similar  to  these  will  form  amongst  the  Ameri 
can  people  a  prevailing  aud  perpetual  bond  of  Union.  Universal  confi 
dence  and  kindness  will  take  the  place  of  distrust  and  jealousy.  It  is 
only  by  an  open  and  manly  recognition  of  the  rights  that  belong  to 
every  State  and  Territory,  that  we  can  hope  for  a  peaceful  perpetuity 
to  our  Union. 

That  we  may  attest  our  earnestness,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  presence  of 
her  country's  star-lit  flag,  and  in  his  presence  who  is  the  pattern  of  his 
country  and  the  father  also  to  the  Constitution,  though  not  its  author, 
we  renew  our  vows  of  fidelity  to  the  Union  and  the  Constitution.  (A 
portrait  of  Washington,  festooned  with  flags,  was  directly  in  front  of 
the  speaker). 

If  the  evil  day  should  come,  which  God  mercifully  avert,  when  we 
should  see  the  rights  of  any  State  abused  or  crushed,  her  appeal  to 
Pennsylvania  will  not  be  in  vain.  If  she  is  feeble,  her  weakness  will 
strengthen  our  attachment  and  love.  Our  beloved  State  will  say  from 
the  heart  to  the  heart — "Entreat  me  not  to  leave  thee,  nor  to  return 
from  following  after  thee ;  where  thou  goest  I  will  go,  where  thou 
lodgest  I  will  lodge,  thy  people  shall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my 
God.  Where  thou  diest  I  will  die,  and  there  will  I  be  buried.  The 
Lord  do  so  to  me  and  mine  also,  if  aught  but  death  part  thee  and  me." 
(Great  emotion  and  applause). 

But,  sir,  I  have  wandered  from  my  duty,  and  returning  to  it  I  renew 
our  thanks  to  every  State  represented  in  this  Convention.  Before  I 
close  allow  me  to  vindicate  Pennsylvania's  favorite  son  against  the 
charge  of  having  failed  in  that  higher  duty  which  every  man  owes  to 
himself,  to  society  and  to  the  sweeter  sex.  Mr.  Buchanan,  we  confess, 
is  a  bachelor.  But  the  reason  is  a  complete  vindication  as  will,  I  am 
sure,  satisfy  every  gentleman  here  present.  It  is  this — as  soon  as  James 
Buchanan  was  old  enough  to  marry,  he  became  wedded  to  the  Con 
stitution  of  his  country,  and  the  laws  of  Pennsylvania  do  not  allow  a 
man  to  have  more  than  one  wife. 

For  some  time  the  cheers,  long  and  loud,  from  without,  and  the  roar 
of  cannon,  had  announced  that  along  the  telegraphic  wires  the  glad 
news  was  streaming  to  every  part  of  the  Republic  that  James  Buchanan 
was  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  American  Democracy  for  President 
of  the  United  States. 

After  the  vote  had  been  duly  recorded,  there  was  such  a  general  sen 
sation,  that  it  was  difficult  to  proceed  with  other  business. 

B.  F.  Hallett,  from  the  Committee  on  Resolutions,  reported  the  fol 
lowing  : 


60  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


Resolved,  That  the  administration  of  Franklin  Pierce  has  been  true  to  the  great  interests  of  the 
country.  In  the  face  of  the  most  determined  opposition  it  has  maintained  the  laws,  enforced  econo 
my,  fostered  progress,  and  infused  integrity  and  vigor  into  every  department  of  the  government  at 
home.  It  has  signally  improved  our  treaty  relations,  extended  the  field  of  commercial  enterprise, 
and  vindicated  the  rights  of  American  citizens  abroad.  It  has  asserted  with  eminent  impartiality 
the  just  claims  of  every  section,  and  has  at  all  times  been  faithful  to  the  Constitution.  We  there 
fore  proclaim  our  unqualified  approbation  of  its  measures  and  its  policy. 

Adopted,  with  long  and  rapturous  applause,  and  unanimously. 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions,  to  whom  was  referred  the  resolution 
submitted  by  the  delegation  for  Virginia,  have  instructed  their  Chair 
man  to  ask  that  they  be  discharged  from  its  further  consideration. 

June  5,  1856.  B.  F.  HALLETT,  Chairman. 

Which  Report  was  concurred  in. 

H.  B.  Wright,  of  Pennsylvania,  with  remarks,  offered  the  following 
resolution : 

Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  in  this  Convention,  relating  to  the  conflicting  delegations  from 
the  State  of  New  York,  be  stricken  from  the  record  thereof,  and  that  we  earnestly  recommend  to 
both  delegations  here  present  to  unite  in  a  call  for  a  single  State  Convention  to  nominate  an  elec 
toral  ticket  and  ticket  for  State  officers. 

The  following  are  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Beardsley,  Mr.  Ludlow  and 
Governor  Seymour,  of  New  York,  upon  the  resolution  offered  by  Mr. 
Wright,  of  Pennsylvania,  to  expunge  from  the  reports  of  the  Commit 
tee  on  Credentials  all  but  the  resolutions  in  the  New  York  case  : 

Mr.  Beardsley  rose  deliberately  and  said — For  the  representatives  of 
our  section  of  the  Democracy  of  New  York,  I  am  ready  to  avow  here, 
that  they  have  every  wish  to  unite  the  Democracy  of  New  York  on 
sound  principles,  and  to  sustain  the  nomination  made  here  and  all  who 
stand  firmly  on  the  platform  which  has  been  erected  by  the  Conven 
tion.  They,  sir,  have  no  reproaches  to  make.  They  honestly  agree  to 
act  as  they  believe  to  be  the  wish  of  their  brethren  throughout  the 
Union,  and  they  entertain  the  firm  conviction  that  the  vote  of  New 
York  will  exhibit  a  glorious  Democratic  victory  at  the  coming  election. 
I  have  said  enough  to  show  what  we  feel,  and  I  do  not  mean  to  imply 
a  doubt  that  our  brethren  in  New  York  will  participate  in  these  feel 
ings,  and  act  in  accordance  with  the  pledge  we  have  given. 

Mr.  Ludlow — On  behalf  of  the  delegation  which  I  have  the  honor  to 
represent,  I  most  cordially  and  most  heartily  reciprocate  the  sentiments 
avowed  by  the  Chairman  of  the  other  delegation.  Sir,  I  congratulate 
the  Democracy  of  New  York ;  I  congratulate  the  Democracy  of  Penn 
sylvania  ;  I  congratulate  the  Democracy  of  the  whole  Union,  that  the 
proposition  has  been  introduced  by  the  gentleman  who  has  been  repre 
senting  Pennsylvania  on  this  floor.  The  introduction  of  that  resolution 
is  a  pledge  on  the  part  of  the  friends  of  Mr.  Buchanan  that  whatever 
differences  may  have  grown  up,  are  eradicated  forever.  By  the  adop 
tion  of  that  resolution,  New  York  stands  pledged  next  fall  to  elect  the 
Democratic  nominee.  As  an  accompaniment  to  that  resolution,  not 
as  an  amendment,  but  I  hope  it  will  be  accepted  by  the  mover  of  the 
resolution  now  before  the  Convention,  I  have  one  in  my  hand,  which 
I  wish  to  offer.  Divided  as  we  have  been,  it  may  give  rise  to  some 
embarrassment  in  New  York  to  choose  a  member  of  the  National  Com 
mittee.  I  propose  that  the  election  of  that  member  may  be  referred  to 
the  next  State  Convention  held  under  that  resolution. 

Which  proposition  being  opposed  by  Mr.  Beardsley,  of  N.  Y.,  was, 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  61 

at  the  request  of  Horatio  Seymour,  of  N.  Y.,  and  others,  withdrawn  by 
Mr.  Ludlow,  and  the  original  resolution  unanimously  adopted. 
Thereupon  the  Convention  adjourned  until  2  o'clock,  P.  M. 


AFTERNOON  SESSION,  JUNE  6,  1856. 
At  2  o'clock  the  Convention  was  called  to  order. 

Mr.  Shields,  of  Missouri,  rose  and  said — Mr.  President,  I  have  heen 
unanimously  instructed  by  the  Delegation  from  Missouri  to  offer  in 
their  name,  the  resolution  which  I  now  send  to  the  Clerk's  table  to  be 
read,  and  I  ask  this  Convention  to  adopt  the  same,  not  only  as  an  act 
of  justice  to  the  Great  West  and  our  Pacific  brethren,  but  as  a  measure 
to  bind  more  closely  together  our  wide-spread  Union  in  enduring 
bonds.  It  has  been  framed  with  a  view  to  secure,  if  possible,  the 
unanimous  approval  of  this  body.  The  President  decided  that  under 
the  rules,  the  resolution  must  go,  without  debate,  to  the  Committee  on 
Kesolutions.  The  resolution  was  as  follows  : — 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government  to  construct,  so  far  as  it  has  constitu 
tional  power  so  to  do,  a  safe  overland  communication  within  our  own  territory  bvtween  the  Pacific 
and  Atlantic  States. 

Mr.  Saunders  of  Wisconsin — I  offer  the  following  amendment  to 
the  resolution  of  the  gentleman  from  Missouri,  and  I  move  that  the 
Committee  on  Resolutions  be  instructed  to  report  it  back  to  the  Con 
vention  with  the  recommendation  that  the  same  be  adopted. 

Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  recognizes  the  great  importance,  in  a  political  and  com 
mercial  point  of  view,  of  a  safe  and  speedy  communication  through  our  own  territory  between  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of  the  Union,  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government  to 
exercise  all  its  constitutional  power  to  the  attainment  of  that  object,  thereby  binding  the  Union  of 
these  States  in  indissoluble  bonds,  and  opening  to  the  rich  commerce  of  Asia  an  overland  transit 
from  the  Pacific  to  the  Mississippi  River,  and  the  great  lakes  of  the  North. 

Here  Gov.  Chapman  raised  a  point  of  order,  viz.:  that  under  the 
special  order  of  the  Convention  we  must  now  proceed  to  the  nomina 
tion  of  Vice  President. 

President — There  is  no  such  special  order. 

Mr.  Thompson,  of  Mississippi,  moved  to  lay  the  whole  subject  on- 
the  table. 

Mr.  Shields  accepted  the  resolution  of  the  gentleman  of  Wisconsin, 
as  an  amendment  of  his  own. 

On  the  motion  to  lay  on  the  table,  the  votes  by  States  being  taken, 
resulted  as  follows — Ayes  74,  nays  220. 

AYES — New  Hampshire  4,  Massachusetts  1,  Rhode  Island  2,  Con 
necticut  4,  New  Jersey  7,  Delaware  1,  Virginia  15,  North  Carolina  10, 
South  Carolina  8,  Georgia  7,   Mississippi  7,   Ohio  6,  Tennessee  1 
Florida  3—74. 

NAYS — Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  1,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  12, 
Rhode  Island  2,  Connecticut  2,  New  York  35,  Pennsylvania  27,  Del 
aware  2,  Maryland  8,  Georgia  31,  Alabama  9,  Louisiana  6,  Ohio  17, 
Kentucky  12,  Tennessee  11,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11,  Missouri  9,' 


62  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


Arkansas  4,  Michigan  6,  Texas  4,  Iowa  4,  Wisconsin  5,  California 
4—220. 

So  the  motion  to  lay  on  the  table  was  lost. 

Mr.  Phelps  of  Missouri — If  my  friend  from  Michigan  will  withdraw 
his  motion,  which  is  out  of  order,  I  will  move  to  suspend  the  rules, 
which  will  bring  the  Convention  to  a  direct  vote  on  the  resolution 
itself. 

President — The  motion  of  the  gentleman  from  Wisconsin  is  out  of 
order — does  he  give  way  for  the  gentleman  from  Missouri. 

Mr.  Saunders — I  withdraw  my  motion,  and  make  that  suggested 
by  the  gentleman  from  Missouri — that  the  rules  be  suspended. 

The  vote  was  called  for  by  States,  and  was  as  follows  : — 

AYES — Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  1,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  11, 
Rhode  Island  2,  Connecticut  3,  New  York  35,  Pennsylvania  6,  Del 
aware  2,  Maryland  8,  Georgia  3,  Alabama  9,  Missouri  7,  Louisiana  6, 
Ohio  19,  Kentucky  12,  Tennessee  11,  Indiana,  13,  Illinois  11,  Mis 
souri  9,  Arkansas  4,  Michigan  6,  Texas  4,  Iowa  4,  Wisconsin  5, 
California  4— 208. 

NAYS — New  Hampshire  4,  Massachusetts  2,  Rhode  Island  2,  Con 
necticut  3,  New  Jersey  7,  Pennsylvania  21,  Delaware  1,  Virginia  15, 
North  Carolina  10,  South  Carolina  8,  Georgia  7,  Ohio  4,  Tennessee  1, 
Florida  3—88. 

So  the  rules  were  suspended,  by  a  vote  of  two -thirds. 

Mr.  Inge,  of  California,  then  moved  the  adoption  of  the  resolution, 
and  on  this  motion  called  for  the  previous  question. 

The  call  for  the  previous  question  being  sustained,  the  vote  was 
taken  on  the  resolution,  and  resulted  as  follows  : — 

AYES — Maine  8,  New  Hampshire  1,  Vermont  5,  Massachusetts  11, 
Rhode  Island  2,  Connecticut  3,  New  York  35,  Pennsylvania  6,  Del 
aware  1,  Maryland  8,  Georgia  6,  Alabama  9,  Mississippi  7,  Louisiana 
6,  Ohio  14,  Kentucky  12,  Tennessee  11,  Indiana  13,  Illinois  11, 
Missouri  9,  Arkansas  4,  Michigan  6,  Texas  4,  Iowa  4,  Wisconsin  5, 
California  4—205. 

NAYS — New  Hampshire  4,  Massachusetts  2,  Rhode  Island  2,  Con 
necticut  3,  New  Jersey  7,  Pennsylvania  21,  Delaware  1,  Virginia  15, 
North  Carolina  10,  South  Carolina  8,  Georgia  4,  Ohio  6,  Tennessee  1, 
Florida  3 — 87. 

So  the  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Convention. 

Mr.  Phelps,  of  Missouri — I  now  move  to  reconsider  the  vote  adopt 
ing  the  resolution,  and  move  further  that  said  motion  be  laid  on  the 
table,  so  as  to  clinch  the  passage  of  said  resolution.  Adopted. 

The  President  then  announced  that  the  next  business  in  order  was 
the  nominations  for  Vice  President. 

Mr.  C .  A.  Wickliffe,  of  Kentucky,  arose  and  said,  I  am  instructed 
unanimously  by  the  delegation  to  present  to  the  Convention,  for  the 
second  office  in  the  gift  of  the  Democracy,  that  tried  Democrat  of  their 
own  State,  Linn  Boyd,  of  Kentucky.  [Loud  applause.] 

Thomas  L.  Harris,  of  Illinois. — Mr.  President :  By  the  unanimous 
vote  of  the  delegation  from  Illinois,  I  present  to  the  Convention  for 
the  Vice  Presidency  the  name  of  a  gentleman  who,  though  born  on  the 
banks  of  the  Hudson,  now  lives  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi.  He 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


was  a  gentleman  of  whom  the  whole  nation  was  proud;  who  was 
equally  distinguished  for  the  boldness,  as  for  the  goodness  of  his  heart; 
whose  nature  was  as  warm  and  affectionate  as  it  was  true  and  gallant. 
1  have  had  the  honor  to  serve  under  him  in  the  perilous  scenes  of  a 
fierce  conflict  in  a  hostile  and  distant  land,  and  I  can  bear  personal 
testimony  to  his  patriotism,  his  fidelity  to  duty,  his  dauntless  bravery  — 
he  was  ever  foremost  where  danger  and  duty  called.  He  it  was  who 
so  nobly  led  the  gallant  volunteers  of  his  country  through  such  appall 
ing  dangers  into  the  very  heart  of  the  enemy's  capital,  and  there  first, 
on  one  of  the  loftiest  citadels  of  the  Montezumas,  planted  the  banner 
of  the  Republic.  This  name,  which  Illinois,  with  her  unanimous  voice 
and  all  her  heart,  presented  to  the  Convention  for  the  Vice  Presidency, 
was  John  A.  Quitman,  of  Mississippi.  [Immense  and  prolonged 
applause.] 

Gen.  J.  L.  Lewis,  of  Louisiana,  was  instructed  by  his  delegation  to 
present  the  name  of  John  0.  Breckinridge,  of  Kentucky,  for  the  Vice 
Presidency.  [Applause.] 

Mr.  Breckinridge  arose  amid  great  applause.  It  was  some  time 
before  the  cheering  ceased  and  be  could  be  heard.  He  said  : 

Mr.  President  :  How  can  I  adequately  express  my  gratitude  to  the 
noble  State  of  Louisiana,  for  this  flattering  manifestation  of  their  good 
will  ?  But,  Sir,  I  have  always  held  tbat  promotion  should  follow 
seniority.  Besides,  I  am  already  a  candidate  for  the  votes  of  the  peo 
ple,  having  been  designated  by  the  Democracy  as  the  elector  in  my 
district,  and  expect  soon  to  enter  upon  an  active  campaign  —  to  traverse 
the  valleys  and  climb  the  mountains  of  my  native  State,  in  behalf  of 
the  distinguished  and  noble  candidate  we  have  already  selected  for  the 
Presidency,  and,  in  advocacy  of  the  glorious  State  Rights  Platform, 
which  we  have  adopted  with  such  signal  unanimity.  There  is  still 
another  reason  why  my  name  should  not  be  pressed  for  this  high  post. 
The  delegation  of  my  own  State,  with  which  I  cordially  concur,  have 
already  presented  the  name  of  one  of  her  sons  —  a  tried  and  able  cham 
pion  of  Democracy  —  for  this  very  office.  I  can  never  consent  that  my 
name  should  be  placed  in  opposition  to,  or  my  merits  in  competition 
with  his.  I  beg,  therefore,  with  grateful  acknowledgements  for  the 
high  compliment  offered  me  by  the  delegation  from  Louisiana,  that  my 
name  may  be  withdrawn.  [Great  applause.] 

Mr.  Chapman,  of  Alabama  —  Mr.  President  :  In  behalf  of  the  Ala 
bama  delegation,  I  am  proud  to  present  for  the  consideration  of  the 
Convention,  the  name  of  one  of  her  tried  and  talented  statesmen;  one 
who  has  already  —  in  the  high  office  he  so  worthily  fills  —  evinced  his 
fidelity  to  the  faith  of  the  Democracy;  I  name  Benjamin  Fitzpatrick. 
With  such  a  name  associated  with  that  of  Pennsylvania's  great  and 
wise  statesman,  Alabama,  in  the  next  contest,  will  roll  up  a  majority 
of  fifteen  thousand.  In  answer  to  the  objection  that  the  last  Vice 
President  was  taken  from  Alabama,  I  would  remind  the  Convention  of 
the  melancholy  event  by  which  the  nation  was  deprived  of  the  services 
of  that  distinguished  statesman,  so  long  the  intimate  and  confidential 
friend  of  James  Buchanan.  [Applause.] 

A  delegate  from  Tennessee  nominated  A.  V.  Brown,  and  spoke  of 
his  fidelity  to  the  Democracy  for  thirty  years;  his  intimacy  and  cor- 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


dial  co-operation  with  Jackson  and  Polk,  and  declared  that,  with  his 
name,  the  Democratic  party  would,  in  the  next  election,  achieve  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  triumphs  in  the  history  of  political  victories. 

Mr.  Wilson,  of  South  Carolina — Mr.  President  :  In  behalf  of  the 
delegation  of  South  Carolina,  I  beg  to  present  to  the  Convention  the 
name  of  one  of  the  distinguished  sons  of  the  Old  Dominion,  whom 
genius,  eloquence  and  sound  Democracy  commend  him  to  the  people, 
as  the  man  for  the  high  position  for  which  we  are  now  about  to  nominate 
the  candidate.  Sir,  I  allude  to  James  A.  Seddon.  [Great  applause.] 

Jas.  A.  Seddon  of  Virginia — Mr.  President,  I  appreciate  profoundly 
the  honor  conferred  by  the  nomination  just  made,  and  am  especially 
gratified  by  the  source  whence  it  has  proceeded.  To  receive  the  appro 
ving  plaudits  of  the  "gallant  Percy  of  the  South"  is  inestimably  grate 
ful  to  my  feelings,  and  till  my  heart's  last  throb  must  be  borne  in 
indelible  remembrance.  I  must,  however,  decline  the  nomination  ten 
dered,  and  beg  the  honorable  gentleman  to  withdraw  my  name  from  the 
candidacy.  The  Virginia  delegation,  with  my  entire  assent,  have  con 
curred  in  the  sentiment  that,  considering  the  circumstances  under  which 
she  has  acted  and  the  position  she  has  occupied  in  relation  to  the  nomi 
nation  for  the  Presidency,  it  would  be  more  consistent  with  her  dignity 
and  honor  that  no  son  of  hers  should  be  placed  in  nomination  for  the 
Vice-President.  In  addition,  I  may  add  as  my  private  judgment,  that 
it  would  be  more  judicious  and  disinterested  that  no  nomination  for  the 
Vice-Presidency  should  be  made  from  among  the  delegates  to  the  nomi 
nating  body.  In  deference,  therefore,  both  to  the  ascertained  sentiment 
of  my  co-delegates  and  to  my  personal  conviction,  I  beg,  with  all  respect 
to  the  gallant  State  proposing  me,  that  my  name  be  withdrawn,  and  I 
am  happy  to  be  able  to  illustrate  in  my  own  case  the  principle  of  dis 
interestedness  commended  by  my  State  and  my  own  judgment. 

Mr.  Avery,  of  North  Carolina — I  am  instructed  by  the  delegation  of 
North  Carolina  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Convention  to  the  merits 
and  qualifications  of  one  of  her  distinguished  sons,  whose  ability  and 
high  administrative  talents  have  been  so  conspicuously  displayed  in  that 
department  of  the  Executive  Government  which  is  most  intimately 
connected  with  the  interest  and  feelings  of  the  people.  North  Carolina 
was  a  modest  State  ;  she  rarely  obtruded  her  pretensions  on  her  brothers 
of  other  States  ;  but  the  great  attainments,  eminent  services  and  wide 
popularity  of  her  son,  induced  her  delegation  now  to  present  his  name 
for  the  second  office  in  the  gift  of  the  Democracy.  North  Carolina  pre 
sented  the  name  of  James  C.  Dobbin.  [Loud  cheers.] 

Mr.  Underwood,  of  Georgia — Mr.  President :  Since  the  Government 
was  established,  Georgia  has  had  but  three  Cabinet  or  excutive  offices 
in  the  Government.  Her  recent  brilliant  triumphs  for  the  Democracy 
give  some  claims  to  be  considered  in  the  choice  of  the  candidate  for  at 
least  the  second  office  in  the  Government,  I  will,  therefore,  present  the 
name  of  one  of  her  sons  who,  in  two  of  the  severest  political  battles 
ever  fought  in  the  State,  bore  with  his  stalwart  arm  and  dauntless  heart 
the  flag  of  Democracy  to  glorious  victory,  that  man  who  had  met  one 
of  the  fiercest  and  most  dangerous  factions  that  ever  raised  its  grim 
front  in  the  land,  and  sent  it  howling  back  to  its  den. 

I  propose  the  name  of  Herschell  V.  Johnson,     [Loud  applause.] 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  65 

Mr.  Moore,  of  Maine,  presented  the  name,  and  gave  the  eight  votes 
of  his  State  for  Thomas  J.  Rusk,  of  Texas. 

A  delegate  from  Texas  said  that,  while  the  delegation  from  Texas 
felt  highly  honored  in  having  her  favorite  son  named  for  the  Vice-Pre 
sidency,  they  felt  it  their  duty  to  that  distinguished  citizen  to  beg  that 
his  name  be  withdrawn.  General  Rusk  had  recently  received  the  unani 
mous  vote  of  the  Legislature  of  his  State  for  the  United  States  Senate, 
and  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  remain  at  his  post  and  fulfill  the  wishes 
and  guard  the  honor  and  interests  of  his  State  in  that  important  sphere. 

Mr.  G.  Salisbury,  of  Delaware,  nominated  Jas.  A.  Bayard,  of  his 
State,  for  the  Vice-Presidency. 

Mr.  W.  Salisbury,  of  Delaware — I  nominate  that  eminent  son  of 
Delaware,  and  distinguished  Democrat  of  Missouri,  the  standard-bearer 
of  its  gallant  Democracy,  Trusten  Polk. 

Mr.  Phelps,  of  Missouri  :  Missouri  highly  appreciates  this  compli 
ment  to  her  distinguished  citizen,  coming  as  it  does  from  his  native 
State  ;  but  that  gentleman  had  already  been  placed  in  nomination  by 
the  Democracy  of  Missouri  for  the  Governorship  of  the  State.  He  was 
already  in  the  field,  and  the  Democracy  of  Missouri  could  not  spare  him 
for  any  other  post.  He  begged,  therefore,  that  his  name  might  be 
withdrawn. 

In  that  State  the  contest  is  a  peculiar  one.  Our  geographical  position 
and  the  strange  effort  made  there  by  those  upon  whose  pretensions  this 
Convention  has  already  passed,  demands  that  the  eloquent  voice  of  our 
nominee  for  Governor  shall  continue  to  be  heard,  arousing  her  true 
Democracy  as  by  a  trumpet  blast  to  the  great  battle,  in  which  all  friends 
of  the  Constitution  and  Union  are  now  to  engage  under  the  national 
championship  of  the  honored  son  of  Pennsylvania.  The  Democracy 
of  Missouri,  by  acclamation,  put  their  standard  into  his  hands — they 
mean  to  respond  with  enthusiasm  to  his  appeals.  Only  a  few  weeks 
are  to  elapse  before  the  election.  It  is  too  late  for  them  in  that  vast 
State  to  change  front  now,  by  substitution  of  a  new  Gubernatorial 
candidate.  Knowing  his  devotion  to  the  cause,  as  manifested  in  the 
self-sacrifice  he  made,  in  consenting  to  bear  our  State  banner,  notwith 
standing  the  situation  of  his  private  affairs,  and  knowing  that  his  pure 
patriotism  always  beats  exultant  to  the  call  of  duty,  regardless  of  self, 
the  Missouri  Delegation,  profoundly  thankful  for  the  warm  regard 
expressed  by  his  native  State,  as  well  as  others,  beg  his  friends  from 
Delaware  to  withdraw  his  name.  Missouri,  in  her  State  election,  must 
meet  the  first  shock  of  the  conflict.  It  is  important  that  she  should 
meet  it  triumphantly.  The  Democracy  of  the  Union  need  Trusten  Polk 
where  he  now  is,  and  where  Missouri  has  placed  him.  [Cheers.] 

The  President. — The  Convention  will  now  proceed  to  ballot  for  a 
candidate  for  the  Vice  Presidency.  The  Secretary  will  call  the  States. 

Maine. — Rusk,  8  votes. 

New  Hampshire.- — Quitman,  1;  Fitzpatrick,  2;  Dobbin,  2. 
5 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


When  Vermont  was  called,  Mr.  Smalley  said — The  delegation  of 
Vermont  believing  that  no  Democrat  has  a  right  to  refuse  his  services 
when  his  country  calls,  have  instructed  me  to  cast  the  five  votes  of 
Vermont  for  the  talented,  accomplished  and  eloquent  son  of  Kentucky, 
John  C.  Breckinridge.  [Loud  applause.] 

John  0.  Breckinridge,  5. 

Massachusetts — Quit,man,   1;    Fitzpatrick,  2;    Brown,  6:    Johnson,  1: 

Bayard,  1 ;  Rusk,  2. 
Rhode  Island — Johnson,  4. 
Connecticut — Johnson,  6. 
New  York — Quitman,  7  ;  Bayard,  18. 
New  Jersey— Boyd,  2 ;  Polk,  5. 
Pennsylvania — Butler,  27. 
Delaware — Bayard,  3. 
Maryland — Johnson,  8. 
Virginia — Breckinridge,  15. 
North  Carolina— Dobbin,  10. 
South  Carolina— Quitman,  8. 
Georgia — Johnson,  10. 
Alabama — Fitzpatrick,  9. 
Mississippi — Quitman,  7. 
Louisiana — Breckinridge,  6. 

Ohio — Quitman,  8 ;  Boyd,  6 ;  Johnson,  2 ;  Breckinridge,  7. 
Kentucky — Boyd,  12. 
Tennessee — Brown,  12. 
Indiana — Boyd,  13. 
Illinois — Quitman,  11. 
Missouri — Bayard,  9. 
Arkansas — Quitman,  4. 
Michigan — Brown,  6. 
Florida — Dobbin,  4. 
Texas — Quitman,  3;  Brown,  1. 
Iowa — Breckinridge,  4. 
Wisconsin — Rusk,  5. 
California — Brown,  4. 

Before  the  vote  was  announced,  Maine  changed  her  8  votes  from  Husk 
to  Breckinridge  ;  and  New  Hampshire  changed  her  5  votes,  and  cast 
them  also  for  Breckinridge. 

Total.— Quitman, 59;  Boyd  33;  Fitzpatrick,  11;  Brown,  29;  Dobbin, 
13;  Johnson,  31;  Breckinridge,  51;  Bayard,  31;  Polk,  5;  Butler,  27; 
Rusk,  7, 

On  the  second  ballot,  Maine,  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  led  off 
for  Breckinridge — Massachusetts  followed  with  eleven  out  of  thirteen 
votes — Rhode  Island  followed  with  her  four,  then  the  New  York  Softs 
gave  him  eighteen.  Delaware,  Maryland  and  Virginia  voting  in  the 
same  way,  it  became  quite  obvious  that  he  was  the  choice  of  the  body, 
and  though  several  of  the  remaining  States  voted  for  other  candidates, 
they  quickly,  one  by  one,  changed  their  votes  ;  the  several  delegates 
making  neat  and  appropriate  speeches  in  announcing  the  change  of  the 
vote.  The  entire  vote  being  polled  for  John  C.  Breckinridge,  of  Ken 
tucky. 

Then  commenced  the  withdrawal. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION. 


Mr.  Salisbury  withdrew  the  name  of  Bayard,  and  threw  the  vote  of 
Delaware  for  Breckinridge. 

When  Connecticut  was  called,  P.  C.  Childs  said:  Mr.  President  — 
Let  the  South  say  whom  they  desire  for  this  office,  and  we  will  put 
him  through  in  a  minute.  If  they  don't  agree,  Connecticut  will  put 
Isaac  Toucey  in  the  field. 

Another  delegate  from  Connecticut  —  Oh,  no  :  we  will  keep  Toucey 
for  some  higher  game. 

Chapman,  of  Albania,  withdrew  Fitzpatrick  and  threw  the  vote  of 
that  State  for  Breckinridge. 

Col.  Bates,  of  Tennessee,  withdrew  A.  V.  Brown,  pledging  his  cor 
dial  support  of  the  ticket  and  declaring  the  vote  for  Breckinridge. 

Governor  Matthews,  of  Mississippi,  after  returning  thanks  to  Illinois 
for  placing  Mississippi's  favorite  son  in  nomination,  withdrew  the 
name  of  Quitman. 

All  the  other  candidates  were  severally  withdrawn  by  the  gentlemen 
who  had  nominated  them. 

Quickly  all  the  other  States  changed  their  votes,  wheeled  into  line, 
and  before  the  roll  was  concluded  there  was  a  solid  column  of  all  the 
delegations,  and  TWO  HUNDRED  AND  NINETY-SIX  votes  were  given  for  John 
C.  Breckinridge.  (Immense  cheering,  long  continued,  enthusiastic  and 
overwhelming.) 

The  whole  Convention  rose,  and  with  waving  of  handkerchiefs  and 
and  the  loudest  calls,  directed  its  gaze  upon  the  tall  and  graceful  dele 
gate  from  Kentucky,  who  had  been  so  unexpectedly  nominated  for  such 
an  exalted  post. 

It  was  long  before  these  demonstrations  subsided  so  as  to  allow  a 
word  to  be  heard.  At  last  the  manly  form  of  Mr.  Breckinridge  stood 
above  the  surrounding  crowd,  and  silence  and  profound  attention  mark 
ing  the  aspect  of  the  vast  assembly,  he  spoke  as  follows  : 

Mr.  President,  and  gentlemen  of  the  Democratic  National  Conven 
tion  :  The  result  just  announced  is  quite  as  unexpected  to  me  as  it 
could  be  to  any  gentlemen  on  this  floor.  In  the  inferior  and  personal 
aspect  of  the  matter,  I  beg  you  to  consider  all  said  that  ought  to  be  said 
on  such  an  occasion.  I  am  truly  and  sincerely  without  words  to  con 
vey  to  you  my  profound  gratitude  for  such  an  unexpected  and  signal 
testimonial  of  your  confidence  and  favor.  I  may  say  sincerely,  and 
call  upon  my  associates  in  this  body  to  bear  witness  to  its  truth,  that 
in  my  course  as  a  member  of  this  body,  I  have  made  no  concealments 
of  my  preferences,  nor  used  any  art  or  taken  one  step  toward  bringing 
about  this  result. 

But  it  is  not  my  purpose  to  make  a  speech.  I  merely  arose  to  ex 
press  to  you  the  thanks  of  a  true  heart.  I  may  add,  too,  the  declara 
tion  of  my  high  appreciation  of  the  association  of  my  humble  name 
with  that  of  the  distinguished  and  tried  statesman  of  Pennsylvania.  I 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


have  always  regarded  Mr.  Buchanan  as  the  last  survivor  of  that  noble 
band  of  American  statesmen  and  orators,  whose  names  are  associated 
with  the  brightest  glories  of  our  country,  and  whose  deeds  constitute 
its  most  cherished  memorials.  He  has  come  down  from  that  genera 
tion  to  transmit  and  guide  us  of  the  present.  He  has  lived  down 
calumny  and  detraction,  and  now  stands  forth  the  peerless  champion 
of  Democracy.  Honored  and  beloved  by  all  his  countrymen,  and  only 
waiting  a  few  months  to  be  clothed  with  the  highest  dignity  the  nation 
and  the  people  can  confer.  . 

The  platform  you  have  so  unanimously  adopted  I  need  not,  as  a 
State-Rights  man,  say  I  cordially  approve  and  indorse.  With  these 
true  Jeffersonian  principles,  and  with  the  temper  of  Jackson  to  enforce 
and  maintain  them ,  Democracy  will  enter  the  contest  with  the  determina 
tion  to  add  another  to  the  brilliant  victories  which  have  so  often  crowned 
their  efforts.  It  would  not  be  appropriate  to  discuss  any  general  prin 
ciple  or  enter  further  upon  the  issues  which  will  be  involved  in  this 
contest.  I  will  therefore  conclude  by  expressing  my  purpose  to  devote 
all  my  heart  and  niind  to  the  great  duty  which  has  been  so  unexpectedly 
conferred  upon  me,  and  to  strive  to  justify  the  confidence  which  you 
have  manifested.  [Immense  applause.  Loud  cheers  within  and  with 
out  the  hall.] 

During  the  delivery  of  the  speech  of  Mr.  Breckinridge,  the  cannon  of 
the  Empire  Club  were  thundering  their  approval  of  the  nomination, 
and  the  Convention  was  boisterous  in  its  applause. 

When  Mr.  Breckinridge  resumed  his  seat,  there  wras  a  loud  call  for 
Mr.  Preston  of  Kentucky,  when  that  gentleman  came  forward  and 
addressed  the  Convention  in  an  eloquent  off-hand  speech,  which  pro 
duced  the  most  thrilling  effect. 

Wm.  E.  Preston,  of  Kentucky  said :  Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Con 
vention,  I  am  at  present  laboring  under  much  physical  debility,  but  I  can  not 
feel  insensible  to  the  honor  you  have  done  me,  by  thus  unexpectedly  calling 
me  to  the  stand.  Although  by  this  expression  of  your  esteem,  so  genially 
given,  I  feel  as  much  surprised  as  my  friend  and  comrade  must  have  been, 
by  the  great  testimonial  which  you  have  but  just  now  given  by  his  selection 
— I  will  not  say  nomination — for  the  office  of  Vice-Presidency  of  the  United 
States.  For  myself,  I  stand  here  comparatively  a  stranger  amongst  you  ;  but 
he  had  a  right  by  inheritance  to  the  favorable  opinions  of  the  Democracy, 
and  his  elevation  to  the  second  office  in  the  Government,  is  an  auspicious 
augury  of  the  return  of  Kentucky  to  the  Democratic  faith  of  her  fathers. 
(Great  applause.)  It  is  the  preliminary  announcement  of  the  return  of  my 
native  State  to  the  honored  principles  of  the  past,  those  principles  which  were 
in  the  ascendant,  when  John  Breckinridge  of  Kentucky,  the  grand-father  of 
the  nominee,  asserted  with  all  the  strength  of  a  virtuous  purpose  and  signal 
ability  the  celebrated  resolutions  of  1798,  the  foundation  upon  which  yet 
repose  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  their  theory  of  the  Consti 
tution.  I  do  not  appropriate  to  myself  personally  the  loud  acclaims  which 
have  greeted  me  in  this  assembly,  but  I  regard  it  as  a  generous  earnest  of  that 
magnanimous  regard  which  the  Democracy  have  exhibited  for  all  that  true 
and  loyal  band  of  old  Whigs  whose  honorable  existence  as  a  party  having 
closed  are  now  compelled  to  choose  between  the  factions, — I  will  not  flatter  them 
with  the  name  of  parties, — that  are  struggling  in  unprincipled  confusion  for 
political  ascendancy,  and  the  great  party  of  the  national  Democracy.  I  am 
proud  to  avow  that  I  belong  to  those  old  Whigs  who,  revering  the  Constitution 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  69 

of  our  country,  look  alone  to  its  principles  as  the  true  safeguard  of  the  Union, 
rather  than  to  the  bigoted  and  trenchant  rituals  of  a  secret  organization. 
You  know,  Mr.  President,  the  glories  of  the  men  to  whom  I  allude.  They 
have  come  forward  animated  alone  by  love  of  Rebublican  freedom,  and  dis 
daining  the  senseless  mummeries  of  the  Know  Nothng  order,  and  the  treasona 
ble  doctrine  of  the  Black  Republican  party,  as  honorable  auxilliaries,  to  swell 
the  ranks  that  to-day  array  themselves  under  the  banner  of  the  National 
Democracy,  and  under  the  brilliant  leadership  of  Buchanan  and  Breckinridge. 
(Cheers.)  I  feel,  sir,  a  profound  satisfaction  that  we  came  to  the  aid  of  the 
party  now  assembled,  and  joined  its  standard  in  the  hour  of  darkness  and 
peril,  without  terms  or  compromise,  neither  asking  honors,  no  longer  as 
enemies  but  as  friends  determined  to  stand  by  that  party  which  did  not  hesi 
tate  to  sustain  the  Union  and  the  Constitution.  In  many  an  honorable  field,  in 
many  a  tough  contest,  the  old  Whig  party,  led  by  its  venerated  statesmen, 
have  encountered  the  Democracy,  and  sometimes  with  success.  The  policy  of 
both  were  based  on  the  Constitution,  and  were  patriotic  and  comprehensive, 
but  different.  No  blush  of  shame  rose  either  to  the  cheek  of  the  victor  or  the 
vanquished  party  when  the  fight  was  over  but  a  manly  acquiescence  in  the 
verdict  of  the  people  was  yielded  to  the  successful  party.  No  oaths  to  pro 
scribe  the  friendless,  no  obligations  to  infringe  religious  freedom  stain  their 
history,  no  treasonable  dogmas  like  those  of  the  Black  Republicans,  impairing, 
if  carried  into  effect,  the  equality  of  the  States  and  violating  the  Constitution, 
marked  the  race,  but  a  free  and  honorable  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
commercial,  financial  and  domestic  policy  which  should  be  pursued  by  the. 
nation.  Against  such  factions,  however,  it  now  becomes  the  duty  of  the  Whig 
party  to  do  battle  or  send  in  servile  capitulation.  It  is  between  them  and 
the  Democracy  that  the  old  Whigs  of  the  country  are  compelled  to  decide. 
My  choice  is  made,  (cheers)  and  when  I  see  around  me  the  numbers  of  dele 
gates  who  once  were  members  of  that  organization — when  I  see  them 
seeking  refuge  in  the  unshaken  battalions  of  the  Democracy — when  I  know 
that  two  or  three  hundred  thousand  of  the  old  Whig  party  share  our  senti 
ments,  I  cannot,  doubt  result.  It  would  be  unjust  in  me,  to  refuse  the  testi 
mony  I  offer  to  the  gallant  and  patriotic  stand  made  by  the  Democracy  during 
the  last  two  years  of  the  darkest  hours  that  threatened  the  country.  Stand 
ing  as  it  does  this  day,  it  is  more  glorious  far,  than  at  any  former  period  of  its 
history.  It  occupies  a  grander  position  than  when  by  the  foresight  of  Jeffer 
son,  it  secured  the  bright  and  fertile  plains  of  Louisiana,  or  when  it  added  the 
beautiful  savannahs  of  Texas  to  the  Union,  or  when  it  planted  in  triumph  our 
standard  upon  the  turrets  of  Mexico,  or  when  it  completed  the  continental 
breadth  of  the  empire,  by  giving  it  an  ocean  boundary  on  either  side,  or 
when  it  impressed  the  arts,  the  arms,  the  civilization  and  the  free  institutions 
of  our  people  upon  the  golden  shores  of  California.  (Applause.)  Yes,  Mr. 
President,  grander  by  far  stands  the  Democratic  party  of  to-day,  than  at 
either  of  those  proud  epochs ;  because  in  the  day  of  gloom  and  disaster  it 
courageously  confronted  domestic  dissentions,  trampled  under  foot  the  foul 
theory  of  factions,  and  now  prepares,  in  this  hall,  by  these  principles,  and 
under  the  leaders  to-day  chosen,  to  maintain  to  the  last  extremity  those  prin 
ciples  upon  which  rest  the  prosperity  of  our  country  and  the  peaceful  union 
of  these  States.  It  is  true  that,  remembering  rather  the  animosities  of  the 
past  than  the  emergencies  of  the  present,  there  are  some  of  the  old  Whig 
guard  that,  like  John  Bunyan's  pilgrims,  yet  halt  at  Doubting  Castle ;  but 
when  the  telegraph  bears  upon  its  wings  the  result  of  this  day's  deliberations, 
their  cheeks  will  no  longer  be  sicklied  with  irresolution,  but  they  will  rush  to 
your  standard  and  join  you  for  the  common  cause  of  their  country.  (Great 
applause.) 

Permit  me  to  add  another  remark  :  There  were  in  the  States  of  the  North 
a  company  of  gallant  men  feeling  the  full  force  of  constitutional  obligations 
and  recognizing  the  sovereign  right  of  the  States  of  the  Confederacy  both  to 
regulate  their  own  internal  affairs  and  to  lend  the  impress  of  our  institutions 
to  the  common  territory  of  the  country,  without  sectional  distinction,  who, 
when  Douglas,  with  the  intrepidity  of  genius  and  the  foresight  of  a  statesman 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


sought  to  remove  forever  the  irritating  causes  which  for  thirty  years,  had 
produced  festering  discontent  at  the  North  and  the  South,  came  forward  as 
a  forlorn  hope,  in  the  passage  of  the  Nebraska-Kansas  act.  I  shall  never 
forget  the  deep  emotions  of  respect  and  admiration  with  which  I  saw  them 
repair  to  resist  the  sectional  prejudices  of  the  people  they  represented.  It 
exhibited  a  moral  grandeur  worthy  of  the  best  days  of  the  Republic.  They 
prepared  to  execute  at  once  and  forever  an  act  which  was  the  logical  conse 
quence  of  the  compromise  of  1850,  and  to  remove  forever  from  the  domination 
of  Congress  to  the  tribunals  of  the  territories,  the  decision  of  the  only  great 
question  which  has  disturbed  the  fraternal  love  of  our  country.  All  knew 
that  the  act  was  of  such  magnitude  that  it  could  not  be  performed  without 
hearing  a  loud  outcry  of  fanatics,  mal-contents  and  demagogues,  but  they 
proved  themselves  equal  to  the  occasion.  'The  tempest  burst  forth  with  all 
its  fury;  every  foul  element  of  religious  rancor  and  hatred  of  race,  was  in 
voked  to  increase  its  strength.  The  treasonable  wave  of  the  Black  Republican 
party  united  with  the  fierce  fanatacism  of  the  miscalled  American  order, 
swept  over  the  land,  and  few  were  able  to  withstand  the  shock.  I  see  many 
around  me  who  were  the  victims  of  the  misguided  vengeance  of  the  people. 
Let  such  men  be  remembered  in  your  coming  hour  of  victory.  If  they  should 
never  arise  from  their  prostrate  position,  they  have  fallen  because  of  their 
patriotism  and  courage,  and  the  epitaph  which  marked  the  spot  where  the 
immortal  three  hundred  fell  at  Thermopylae,  might  well  be  inscribed  to  com 
memorate  their  deeds:  "Go,  stranger,  and  at  Lacedsemon  tell  that  here,  obe 
dient  to  her  laws,  we  fell."  But  I  can  not  believe  that  such  injustice  would 
ever  mark  the  history  of  the  Democracy.  I  believe  that  the  people,  when 
the  public  reason  is  restored,  will  again  lift  them  in  their  arms,  bind  up  their 
wounds,  and  amid  the  clangor  of  the  approaching  Presidential  contest,  will 
hail  them  as  leaders  in  the  greatest  battle  which  it  has  ever  been  the  fortune 
of  the  Democracy  to  offer  in  behalf  of  the  Constitution  and  the  union,  against 
all  comers.  The  first  duty  of  the  Democracy  is  to  restore  those  to  honor  who 
who  were  the  first  to  maintain,  at  all  hazards,  the  principles  and  honor  of  the 
Democratic  party,  and  whom  the  enemies  of  the  Democracy  first  ovewhelmed. 
In  conclusion,  I  return  thanks,  Mr.  President,  once  more  for  the  high  kind 
ness  with  which  I  have  been  signalized  by  this  Convention;  and,  in  tender 
ing  co-operation  and  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  party,  I  shall  attempt,  as 
far  as  lies  within  my  humble  power,  to  ride  deep  into  the  ranks  of  our  adver 
saries,  and  win  my  spurs  in  the  approaching  battle.  I  shall  do  this  in  no 
inimical  spirit,  but  I  trust  with  all  the  fervor  and  sincerity  of  a  man  who 
appreciates  the  priceless  blessings  that  our  Union  confers,  believes  that  they 
can  only  be  preserved  by  regarding  all  our  people  as  equal  without  respect  to 
institutions  or  sections,  and  is  determined  while  his  heart  beats  to  know  no 
friends  or  political  associations  which  do  not  struggle  to  attain  this  end  and 
preserve  the  Union  by  the  only  means  it  can  be  preserved,  which  is  by  a  strict 
observance  of  the  Constitution  under  which  we  live.  I  thank  heaven  that 
while  I  stand  here  to-day  and  gaze  across  at  the  hills  of  my  native  Kentucky, 
I  stand  with  a  party  which  by  the  unanimous  voices  of  the  delegates  of  thirty- 
one  States,  has  emblazoned  its  policy  upon  its  banner,  by  the  party  which,  by 
a  unanimous  voice,  has  selected  its  leaders — leaders  of  known  worth,  ability 
and  patriotism,  .as  the  exponents  of  its  ideas,  and  a  party  which  is  the  same, 
both  in  principles  and  in  candidates,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  from 
Canada  to  the  Gulf — a  party  that  stands  majestic  in  its  strength  and  simpli 
city,  divided  by  no  chain  of  mountains,  severed  by  no  river,  while  all  the 
other  contending  factions  that  hover  around  it,  find  that  Southern  institutions 
are  the  boundaries  of  their  patriotism,  and  the  Ohio  river  the  frontier  of  their 
nationality.  (Tremendous  cheering.) 

Mr.  Petit,  of  Indiana,  said — Mr.  President,  I  thank  you  for  the  honor 
you  have  done  me  in  calling  me  up  on  this  occasion.  There  is  in  the 
history  of  the  past  of  our  party  but  little  to  bring  a  blush  mantling 
upon  the  cheek ;  while  if  we  look  forward  there  is  much  to  beckoa 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION.  71 

onward,  and  invite  us  to  new  hopes,  new  trials,  new  victories  and 
rewards.  With  the  platform  you  have  presented,  you  will  march  to 
victory,  and  give  repose  to  the  country. 

You  have  crushed  out  the  viper  of  a  secret  organization  which 
disseminated  itself  through  the  land,  poisoning  the  springs  of  liberal 
and  virtuous  political  action  ;  and  you  stand  upon  a  firm  foundation 
with  your  candidates  before  the  country,  certain  to  triumph  in  the 
approaching  contest.  [Mr.  Petit  spoke  further,  but  in  consequence  of 
confusion  upon  the  floor  we  were  unable  to  catch  his  remarks.] 

Mr.  Richardson,  of  Illinois,  moved  that  the  Chair  appoint  a  com 
mittee  of  nine  to  officially  inform  Messrs.  Buchanan  and  Breckinridge 
of  their  nomination.  Carried. 

The  President  appointed  the  following  gentlemen  to  constitute  said 
Committee  : — 

Richardson  of  Illinois,  Hibbard  of  New  Hampshire,  Lawrence  of 
Rhode  Island,  Brown  of  Mississippi,  Tucker  of  Virginia,  Forsyth  of 
Alabama,  Manning  of  South  Carolina,  Preston  of  Kentucky,  Horatio 
Seymour,  of  New  York. 

At  the  unanimous  and  earnest  request  of  the  Convention,  the  name 
of  the  Piesident,  John  E.  Ward,  was  added  to  the  Committee  as 
Chairman  thereof. 

The  Special  Committee  appointed  to  select  a  National  Committee 
submitted  the  following  report : — 

Resolved,  That  the  next  Democratic  National  Convention,  be  held  at  Charleston  in  the  State 
of  South  Carolina. 

Resolved,  That  the  rule  adopted  by  the  Convention  of  1852,  and  acted  upon  in  this  Convention, 
be  the  rule  for  the  number  of  delegates  each  state  shall  be  entitled  to  in  the  next  Democratic  Na 
tional  Convention,  and  that  the  National  Committee,  in  calling  the  next  Convention,  shall  provide 
seats  therein  for  each  State  equal  to  t\vice  the  number  of  its  electoral  votes,  and  no  more. 

Resolved,  That  the  time  of  holding  the  next  Convention  be  designated  by  the  Democratic  Na 
tional  Committee,  and  that,  in  their  call,  the  resolutions  of  1852,  providing  for  the  number  of  dele 
gates,  be  inserted  as  the  rule  for  choosing  delegates. 

Resolved,  That  the  National  Democratic  Committee  cause  an  official  report  of  the  proceedings 
of  this  Convention  to  be  prepared,  published  and  distributed  among  members,  for  their  respective 
States,  and  that  said  report  shall  contain  a  list  of  the  names  of  and  the  post  office  address  of  each 
delegate,  and  the  number  of  electoral  votes  of  each  State. 

Resolved,  That  the  first  State  Convention  to  be  held  in  New  York  under  one  undivided  Demo 
cratic  organization,  be  authorized  by  this  Convention  to  appoint  a  member  of  the  National  Com 
mittee  from  that  State.  (Signed,) 

THOS.  McCREERY,  Chairman. 
W.  M.   POGH,  Secretary. 

After  reading  the  report  Mr.  McCreery  said  : — 

In  selecting  a  place  for  holding  the  next  Convention,  the  Committee 
was  divided  between  New  York  and  Charleston.  The  Democracy  of 
both  have  been  recently  distracted  and  divided  ;  let  this  be  received  by 
them  as  an  offering  and  incentive  to  union  and  continued  exertion 
in  the  great  Democratic  cause.  In  the  name  of  the  Committee  he 
presented  the  report. 

Judge  Beardsley  would  make  an  explanation  as  to  New  York  with 
regard  to  this  matter.  It  will  be  understood  by  the  Convention  that 
until  quite  recently  the  Democracy  of  New  York  to  which  I  belong, 
did  not  comprehend  that  proposition  by  which  it  is  intended  to  send 


72  PKOCEEDINGS  OF  THE 


the  question  of  the  selection  of  a  National  Committeeman  to  the  next 
State  Convention  to  be  held  in  New  York.  We  are  prepared  to  live 
up  to  the  arrangement  into  which  we  have  entered.  1  hope  that  it 
may  have  the  effect  of  producing  that  harmony  among  us  which  is  so 
much  to  be  desired  ;  but  I  hope  this  Convention  will  not  send  to  New 
York  for  decision  the  trivial  matter  of  selecting  a  Committeeman. 
It  would  be  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the  Democracy  there,  and  likely  to 
cause  fresh  irritation  and  disagreement.  He  would  move  that  all  that 
part  of  the  report  relating  to  the  New  York  National  Committeeman 
be  stricken  out. 

Mr.  Ludlow  opposed  this  motion.  If  the  matter  was  so  trivial  of 
itself,  why  should  it  be  stricken  out  ?  This  matter  relating  to  New 
York,  should  be  sent  to  New  York  for  decision.  He  assured  them  that 
New  York  had  been  out  of  communion  with  the  Democracy  of  the 
Union  too  long,  and  they  did  not  desire  to  have  no  committeemen  for 
four  years  longer,  but  wished  to  be  in  communication  with  other  States 
in  the  National  Committee. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Meade,  of  Virginia,  the  following  resolution  was 
offered  for  the  one  reported  by  the  committee  on  the  subject : 

Resolved,  That  each  delegation  report  a  name  to  the  Chairman  to  be  placed  by  him  in  a  hat,  and 
that  he  draw  one  of  the  names,  the  same  to  be  declared  duly  elected  a  member  of  the  Committee. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  and  the  report  was  then  agreed  to. 

Thereupon,  the  President  requested  each  delegation  from  New  York 
to  send  one  name  to  the  President's  table,  so  that  the  choice  might  be 
made.  The  delegation  represented  by  Judge  Beardsley,  submitted  the 
name  of  Augustus  Schell.  Mr.  Ludlow  said  those  whom  he  repre 
sented  would  yield  to  the  other  members  of  the  New  York  delegation 
the  member  of  the  committee  for  that  State,  rather  than  trouble  the 
Convention  with  such  a  matter.  And  the  President  then  announced 
that  Augustus  Schell  was  selected  as  the  member  of  said  committee 
on  the  part  of  New  York. 

The  National  Democratic  Committee,  as  chosen,  was  composed  of 
the  following  gentlemen : 

NAMES  OP  NATIONAL  COMMITTEE. 

STATE.  NAME.  POST   OEFICE. 

Maine John  Babson Wiscasset. 

New  Hampshire John  H.George Concord. 

Vermont David  A.  Smalley Burlington. 

Massachusetts James  Cheever Boston. 

Rhode  Island Elisha  R.  Potter South  Kingston. 

Connecticut James  T.  Pratt Rocky  Hill. 

New  York Augustus  Schell New  York  City. 

New  Jersey Jacob  Vanatta Morristown. 

Pennsylvania C.  L.  Ward Towanda. 

Delaware Wm.  D.  Ochiltree New  Castle. 

Maryland Richard  B.  Carmichael....Centreville. 

Virginia Wm.  H.  Clark Halifax  Court  House. 

North  Carolina Thos.  D.  McDowell Elizabethtown. 

South  Carolina Benjamin  H.  Wilson Georgetown. 

Georgia Wm.  K.  DeGraffenried Macon. 

Alabama Henry  D.  Smith Florence. 


NATIONAL  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTION  73 


Mississippi Wm.  R.  Cannon Columbus. 

Louisiana Thomas  E.  P.  Cottman Donaldsonyille. 

Ohio C.  L.  Vallandigham Dayton. 

Kentucky George  A.  Caldwell Louisville. 

Tennessee Randal  W.  McCavock Nashville. 

Indiana James  R.  Stack Huntington. 

Illinois Thomas  Dyer Chicago. 

Missouri John  M,  Krum St.  Louis. 

Arkansas Albert  Rust El  Dorado. 

Michigan Jacob  Besan ..Niles. 

Florida A.  E.  Maxwell Pensacola. 

Texas Wm.  S.  Oldham Austin. 

Iowa Wm.  Thompson Burlington. 

Wisconsin ,, Geo.  B.  Smith Madison. 

California Sam'l  H.  Dosh Shasta. 

Mr.  White,  of  Connecticut,  offered  a  resolution  pledging  the  exer 
tions  of  the  Democracy  to  bring  about  the  single  term  system. 
Referred. to  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  without  debate. 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Riddle,  of  Delaware,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  unanimous  thanks  of  this  Convention,  be  and  are  hereby  extended  to  the 
Hon.  John  E.  Ward,  the  presiding  officer,  and  his  able  assistants,  and  also  to  the  Hon.  A.I*. 
Edgerton,  and  associates,  Committee  of  Arrangements,  and  all  other  rfficers,  for  the  able,  dignified 
and  efficient  manner  in  which  they  have  discharged  their  respective  duties. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  unanimously. 
On  motion  of  S.  W.  Inge,  of  California, 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  are  due,  and  are  hereby  specially  tendered  to  Mr, 
Julius  Hessee,  of  Alabama,  and  to  Alex.  F.  Gray,  of  Wisconsin,  principal  Secretaries,  for  their 
energy,  zeal,  and  attention  to  the  laborious  duties  of  the  Convention. 

Adopted  unanimously. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  citizens  of  Cincinnati  for  their  hospitality 
and  kindness  during  the  session  of  the  Convention,  was  also  passed. 
On  motion,  the  Convention  then  adjourned  sine  die. 

JOHN  E.  WARD,  President. 

WM.  K.  KIMBALL.  W.  H.  H.  DIXON. 

H.  KIMBALL.  AMOS  LAYMAN. 

ISAAC  B.  BOWDITCH.  SAMUEL  WILLIAMS. 

J.    C.  ABBOTT.  JACOB  MILLER. 

WM.  J.  MILLER.  JAMES  ELDER. 

WM.  D.  BISHOP.  '  C.  H.  LAMPHEIR. 

WM.-HANNA.  DANIEL  D.  BERRY. 

JOHN  N.  HUTCHISON.  R,  E.  JACKSON. 

W.  P.  SNOW.  C.  C.  CHATFIELD. 

WM.  F.  RITCHIE.  J.  R.  BROOKS. 

H.  G.  WILLIAMS.  W.  C.  POLLOCK. 

B.  WILSON.  A.  T.  WALLING. 

H.   BUCHANAN.  A.  T.  GRAY. 

JULIUS  HESSEE.  J  N.  DAWLEY. 

A.  DERBIS.  Sectaries. 


PROCEEEDINGS  OP  THE 


After  the  motion  to  adjourn  was  declared  to  be  carried,  the  President, 
on  the  enthusiastic  and  repeated  call  of  the  Convention  came  forward 
and  spoke,  in  substance,  as  follows  : 

I  have  occupied  too  much  of  your  time  to  trespass  longer  on  your 
patience.  I  came  among  you  an  unknown  stranger,  without  a  herald 
to  announce  me.  I  have  been  received  by  you  in  a  manner,  and  hon 
ored  by  you  with  a  position  far  beyond  what  my  fondest  hope  could 
have  anticipated.  New  as  I  was  to  the  duties  which  belong  to  that 
station,  I  have  found  you  ready  and  willing,  at  all  times,  to  forget  my 
errors,  and  to  sustain  me  in  the  discharge  of  those  duties.  I  have 
made  errors  which  appear  as  facts  on  the  record  ;  but  I  trust  I  have 
no  faults  to  be  fastened  on  your  recollections.  The  struggst  here  has 
been  nobly  and  manfully  contested.  Three  of  the  greatest  names  that 
adorn  our  country  have  been  presented  to  this  Convention.  They 
came  before  it  with  ardent,  noble,  devoted  friends.  Our  enemies  said 
in  their  hearts,  like  the  foes  of  David,  "  Ah  ha  !  Ah  ha  !  So  we  would 
have  it."  They  anticipated  what  they  classically  termed  a  fight  of 
the  Kilkenny  cats.  But  what  was  the  result  ?  The  moment  the  Con 
vention  designated  a  man  as  the  choice  of  the  majority,  the  minority 
stepped  forward  and  offered  on  the  altar  of  their  country,  a  sacrifice 
of  their  friendship  —  the  strongest  feeling  that  can  animate  a  man. 
Though  the  contest  has  been  warm,  it  has  not  been  an  embittered  one  ; 
and  when  we  pass  beyond  these  walls,  and  go  forth  to  rally  around 
the  standard  which  is  borne  aloft  by  that  glorious  old  son  of  Penn 
sylvania,  and  beneath  whose  mighty  shade  this  whole  nation  will  find 
repose  from  the  distractions  which  have  agitated  it,  let  us  forget  the 
past,  and  let  our  quarrels  belike  those  between  man  and  wife  —  violent 
while  they  last,  but  tending  to  a  closer  and  sweeter  communion. 

These  remarks  were  received  with  loud  cheers,  after  which  the  crowd 
of  delegates  and  other  spectators  separated. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


-  LANCASTER,  June  13th,  1856. 

SIR  : — The  National  Convention  of  the  Democratic  party,  which  assembled 
at  Cincinnati,  on  the  first  Monday  in  June,  unanimously  nominated  you  as  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

We  have  been  directed  by  the  Convention  to  convey  to  you  this  intelligence, 
and  to  request  you,  in  their  name,  to  accept  the  nomination  for  the  exalted 
trust  which  the  Chief  Magistracy  of  the  Union  imposes. 

The  Convention,  founding  their  action  upon  the  time-honored  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party,  have  announced  their  views  in  relation  to  the  chief 
questions  which  engage  the  public  mind;  and,  while  adhering  to  the  truths  of 
the  past,  have  manifested  the  policy  of  the  present  in  a  series  of  resolutions, 
to  which  we  invoke  your  attention. 

The  Convention  feel  assured,  in  tendering  to  you  this  signal  proof  of  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  your  countrymen,  that  they  truly  reflect  the  opinion 
which  the  people  of  the  United  States  entertain  of  your  eminent  character 
and  distinguished  public  services.  They  cherish  a  profound  conviction  that 
your  elevation  to  the  first  office  in  the  Republic,  will  give  a  moral  guarantee 
to  the  country,  that  the  true  principles  of  the  Constitution  will  be  asserted 
and  maintained;  that  the  public  tranquility  will  be  established;  that  the 
tumults  of  faction  will  be  stilled;  that  our  domestic  industry  will  flourish; 
that  our  foreign  affairs  will  be  conducted  with  such  wisdom  and  firmness  as  to 
assure  the  prosperity  of  the  people  at  home,  while  the  interests  and  honor  of 
our  country  are  wisely  but  inflexibly  maintained  in  our  intercourse  with  other 
nations  ;  and,  especially,  that  your  public  experience  and  the  confidence  of 
your  countrymen,  will  enable  you  to  give  effect  to  Democratic  principles,  so 
as  to  render  indissoluble  the  strong  bonds  of  mutual  interest  and  national 
glory  which  unite  our  confederacy  and  secure  the  prosperity  of  our  people. 

While  we  offer  to  the  country  our  sincere  congratulations  upon  the  fortu 
nate  auspices  of  the  future,  we  tender  to  you  personally,  the  assurances  of  the 
respect  and  esteem  of 

Your  fellow-citizens, 

JOHN  E.  WARD. 

W.  A.  RICHARDSON. 

HARRY  HIBBARD. 

W.  B.  LAWRENCE. 

A.  G.  BROWN. 

JNO.   L.  MANNING. 

JOHN  FORSYTH. 

W.  PRESTON. 

J.  RANDOLPH  TUCKER, 

HORATIO  SEYMOUR. 
HON.  JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


MR.  BUCHANAN'S  ACCEPTANCE. 


WHEATLAND,  (near  Lancaster,)  1 
June  16,  1856.  / 

GENTLEMEN  : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  commu 
nication  of  the  13th  instant,  informing  me  officially  of  my  nomination  by  the 
Democratic  National  Convention,  recently  held  at  Cincinnati,  as  the  Demo 
cratic  candidate  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States.  I  shall  not 
attempt  to  express  the  grateful  feelings  which  I  entertain  towards  my  Demo- 
C  -atic  fellow-citizens  for  having  deemed  me  worthy  of  this — the  highest  politi 
cal  honor  on  earth---an  honor  such  as  the  people  of  no  other  country  have 
the  power  to  bestow.  Deeply  sensible  of  the  vast  and  varied  responsibility 
attached  to  the  station,  especially  at  the  present  crisis  in  our  affairs,  I  have 
carefully  refrained  from  seeking  the  nomination  either  by  word  or  by  deed. 
Now,  that  it  has  been  offered  by  the  Democratic  party,  I  accept  it  with  diffi 
dence  in  my  own  abilities,  but  with  an  humble  trust,  that  in  the  event  of  my 
election,  I  may  be  enabled  to  discharge  my  duty  in  such  a  manner  as  to  allay 
domestic  strife,  preserve  peace  and  friendship  with  foreign  nations,  and  pro 
mote  the  best  interests  of  the  Republic. 

In  accepting  the  nomination  I  need  scarcely  say  that  I  accept  in  the  same 
spirit,  the  resolutions  constituting  the  platform  of  principles  erected  by  the 
Convention.  To  this  platform  I  intend  to  confine  myself  throughout  the  can 
vass,  believing  that  I  have  no  right,  as  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  party, 
by  answering  interrogatories,  to  present  new  and  different  issues  before  the 
people. 

It  will  not  be  expected  that  in  this  answer,  I  should  specially  refer  to  the 
subject  of  each  of  the  resolutions ;  and  I  shall  therefore  confine  myself  to  the 
two  topics  now  most  prominently  before  the  people. 

And  in  the  first  place,  I  cordially  concur  in  the  sentiments  expressed  by  the 
Convention  on  the  subject  of  civil  and  religious  liberty.  No  party  founded 
on  political  or  religious  intolerance  towards  one  class  of  American  citizens, 
whether  born  in  our  own  or  in  a  foreign  land,  can  long  continue  to  exist  in 
this  country.  We  are  all  equal  before  God  and  the  Constitution ;  and  the 
dark  spirit  of  despotism  and  bigotry  which  would  create  odious  distinctions 
among  OUT  fellow-citizens,  will  be  speedily  rebuked  by  a  free  and  enlight 
ened  public  opinion. 

The  agitation  on  the  question  of  Domestic  Slavery  has  too  long  distracted 
and  divided  the  people  of  this  Union  and  alienated  their  affections  from  each 
other.  This  agitation  has  assumed  many  forms  since  its  commencement,  but 
it  now  seems  to  be  directed  chiefly  to  the  Territories ;  and  judging  from  its 
present  character,  I  think  that  we  may  safely  anticipate  that  it  is  rapidly 
approaching  a  "  finality."  The  recent  legislation  of  Congress  respecting 
domestic  slavery,  derived,  as  it  has  been,  from  the  original  and  pure  fountain 
of  legitimate  political  power,  the  will  of  the  majority,  promises  ere  long,  to 
allay  the  dangerous  excitement.  This  legislation  is  founded  upon  principles, 
as  ancient  as  free  government  itself,  and  in  accordance  with  them,  has  sim 
ply  declared  that  the  people  of  a  Territory,  like  those  of  a  State,  shall  decide 
or  themselves,  whether  slavery  shall  or  shall  not  exist  within  their  limits. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  77 


The  Nebraska-Kansas  Act  does  no  more  than  give  the  force  of  law  to  this 
elementary  principle  of  self-government;  declaring  it  to  be  a  the  true  intent 
and  meaning  of  this  act  not  to  legislate  slavery  into  any  Territory  or  State, 
nor  to  exclude  it  therefrom ;  but  to  leave  the  people  thereof  perfectly  free  to 
form  and  regulate  their  domestic  institutions  in  their  own  way,  subject  only 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States."  This  principle  will  surely  not  be 
controverted  by  any  individual  of  any  party  professing  devotion  to  popular 
government.  Besides  how  vain  and  illusory  would  any  other  principle  prove 
in  practice  in  regard  to  the  Territories  !  This  is  apparent  from  the  fact  ad 
mitted  by  all,  that  after  a  territory  shall  have  entered  the  Union  and  become 
a  State,  no  Constitutional  power  would  then  exist  which  could  prevent  it  from 
either  abolishing  or  establishing  slavery,  as  the  case  may  be,  according  to  its 
sovereign  will  and  pleasure. 

Most  happy  would  it  be  for  the  country  if  this  long  agitation  were  at  an 
end.  During  its  whole  progress  it  has  produced  no  practical  good  to  any 
human  being,  whilst  it  has  been  the  source  of  great  and  dangerous  evils.  It 
has  alienated  and  estranged  one  portion  of  the  Union  from  the  other,  arid  haa 
even  seriously  threatened  its  very  existence.  To  my  own  personal  knowledge, 
it  has  produced  the  impression  among  foreign  nations  that  our  great  and  glo 
rious  confederacy  is  in  constant  danger  of  dissolution.  This  does  us  serious 
injury,  because  acknowledged  power  and  stability  always  command  respect 
among  nations,  and  are  among  the  best  securities  against  unjust  aggression 
and  in  favor  of  the  maintenance  of  honorable  peace. 

May  we  not  hope  that  it  is  the  mission  of  the  Democratic  party,  now  the 
only  surviving  conservative  party  of  the  country,  ere  long  to  overthrow  all 
sectional  parties  and  restore  the  peace,  friendship,  arid  mutual  confidence 
which  prevailed  in  the  good  oil  time,  among  the  different  members  of  the  con 
federacy.  Its  character  is  strictly  national,  and  it  therefore  asserts  no  prin 
ciple  for  the  guidance  of  the  Federal  Government  which  is  not  adopted  and 
sustained  by  its  members  in  each  and  every  State.  For  this  reason  it  is 
everywhere  the  same  determined  foe  of  all  geographical  parties,  so  much  and 
so  justly  di-eaded  by  the  Father  of  his  Country.  From  its  very  nature  it 
must  continue  to  exist  so  long  as  there  is  a  Constitution  and  a  Union  to  pre 
serve.  A  conviction  of  these  truths  has  induced  many  of  the  purest,  the  ablest 
and  most  independent  of  our  former  opponents,  who  have  differed  from  us  in 
times  gone  by  upon  old  and  extinct  party  issues,  to  come  into  our  ranks  and 
devote  themselves  with  us  to  the  cause  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union. 
Under  these  circumstances,  I  most  cheerfully  pledge  myself,  should  the  nomi 
nation  of  the  Convention  be  ratified  by  the  people,  that  all  the  power  and  in 
fluence,  constitutionally  possessed  by  the  Executive,  shall  be  exerted  in  a 
firm  but  conciliatorv  spirit,  during  the  single  term  I  shall  remain  in  office,  to 
restore  the  same  harmony  among  the  sister  States  which  prevailed  before  this 
apple  of  discord,  in  the  form  of  slavery  agitation,  had  been  cast  into  their 
midst.  Let  the  members  of  the  family  abstain  from  intermeddling  with  the 
exclusive  domestic  concerns  of  each  other,  and  cordially  unite,  on  the  basis  of 
perfect  equality  among  themselves,  in  promoting  the  great  national  objects  of 
common  interest  to  all,  and  the  good  work  will  be  instantly  accomplished. 

In  regard  to  our  foreign  policy,  to  which  you  have  referred  in  your  commu 
nication, — it  is  quite  impossible  for  any  human  foreknowledge  to  prescribe 
positive  rules  in  advance,  to  regulate  the  conduct  of  a  future  administration 
in  all  the  exigencies  which  may  arise  in  our  various  and  ever  changing  rela 
tions  with  foreign  powers.  The  Federal  Government  must  of  necessity  exer 
cise  a  sound  discretion  in  dealing  with  international  questions  as  they  may 
occur;  but  this  under  the  strict  responsibility  which  the  Executive  must 
always  feel  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  and  the  judgment  of  posterity. 
You  will  therefore  excuse  me  for  not  entering  into  particulars;  whilst  I  hear 
tily  concur  with  you  in  the  general  sentiment,  that  our  foreign  affairs  ought 
to  be  conducted  with  such  wisdom  and  firmness  as  to  assure  the  prosperity  of 
the  people  at  home,  whilst  the  interests  and  honor  of  our  country  are  wisely 
but  inflexibly  maintained  abroad.  Our  foreign  policy  ought  ever  to  be  based 


78  CORRESPONDENCE. 


upon  the  principle  of  doing  justice  to  all  nations,  and  requiring  justice  from 
them  in  return;  and  from  this  principle  I  shall  never  depart. 

Should  I  be  placed  in  the  Executive  Chair,  I  shall  use  my  best  exertions  to 
cultivate  peace  and  friendship  with  all  nations,  believing  this  to  be  our  high 
est  policy  as  well  as  our  most  imperative  duty  ;  but  at  the  same  time,  I  shall 
never  forget  that  in  case  the  necessity  should  arise,  which  I  do  not  now  appre 
hend,  our  national  rights  and  national  honor  must  he  preserved  at  all  hazards 
and  at  any  sacrifice. 

Firmly  convinced  that  a  special  Providence  governs  the  affairs  of  nations, 
let  us  humbly  imploi-e  his  continued  blessing  upon  our  country,  and  that 
he  may  avert  from  us  the  punishment  we  justly  deserve  for  being  discontented 
and  ungrateful  whilst  enjoying  privileges  above  all  nations,  under  such  a 
Constitution  and  such  a  Union  as  has  never  been  vouchsafed  to  any  other 
people. 

Yours,  very  respectfully, 

JAMES  BUCHANAN. 

Hon.  JOHN  E.  WARD,  W.  A.  RICHARDSON,  HARRY  HIBBARD,  W.  B.  LAWRENCE, 
A.  G.  BROWN,  JOHN  L.  MANNING,  JOHN  FORSYTH,  W.  PRESTON,  J.  RAN 
DOLPH  TUCKER,  and  HORATIO  SEYMOUR,  Committee,  &c. 


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LIBRARY,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  DAVIS 

Book  Slip-50m-5,'70(N6725s8) 458— A-31/5 


N9  768317 

JK2313 

Democratic  Party.        1856 
National  convention, 
Cincinnati,  1856. 

Official  proceedings. 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


